How to Take LOKELMA | LOKELMA® (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) 5g | 10g for oral suspension (2024)

FAQs

How should Lokelma be taken? ›

Taking Lokelma

Lokelma comes as a powder that you'll mix with water (at least 3 tablespoons). Then you'll drink the liquid solution. You should drink it right away after mixing it. If any powder remains after drinking the solution, add more water, stir, and drink right away.

Empty the packet(s) of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate powder into a cup of 3 tablespoons (45 mL) or more of water. Stir and drink immediately. If any powder remains in the cup, add more water, then stir and drink. Repeat as needed until no powder remains to be sure you received the full dose.

You can take Lokelma with or without food. However, make sure to separate it from other medications (2 hours before or 2 hours after) since it can change the way other medications work in your body.

Lokelma contains the active substance sodium zirconium cyclosilicate. Lokelma is used to treat hyperkalaemia in adults. Hyperkalaemia means that there is a high level of potassium in the blood. Lokelma lowers the high levels of potassium in your body and helps to keep it at a normal level.

For initial treatment of hyperkalemia, the recommended dose of LOKELMA is 10 g administered three times a day for up to 48 hours. Administer LOKELMA orally as a suspension in water [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)]. For continued treatment, the recommended dose is 10 g once daily.

If your doctor prescribes Lokelma to you, they'll likely monitor for any symptoms of edema. Kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease. Certain kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, may increase your risk of edema. Lokelma can also cause edema as a side effect.

You do not need to refrigerate LOKELMA.

Monitor for signs of edema, particularly in patients who should restrict their sodium intake or are prone to fluid overload (eg, heart failure or renal disease). Advise patients to adjust dietary sodium, if appropriate. Increase the dose of diuretics as needed.

Lokelma works by attaching to potassium in your digestive tract and removing it from your body through your stool. This lowers your potassium levels. Based on studies of Lokelma, the drug should start to work within about an hour after you take your first dose.

Lokelma is available only as a brand-name drug. It doesn't come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Can you take too much Lokelma? ›

Overdose. If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away.

How do I take LOKELMA? For people not on dialysis: Your initial treatment may be one 10 g packet taken three times a day for up to 48 hours. Once you have completed the initial treatment doses, take one 10 g packet once daily to keep your potassium levels lower.

Lokelma 10 g administered three times daily lowered serum potassium by 0.7 mmol/L at 48 hours (p < 0.001 vs. placebo); statistically significant 14% potassium reduction was observed 1 hour after the first dose. Patients with higher starting potassium levels had a greater response to Lokelma.

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate is used to treat hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood). This medicine is a potassium binder. It should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

But it's best to let your doctor know if you have severe constipation before beginning Lokelma treatment. If you have severe constipation, Lokelma may worsen your symptoms, and it may not work as well to lower your potassium levels.

Lokelma should only be mixed with water to form an oral liquid suspension.

One large egg contains about 63 mg of potassium. 11 Eggs are considered a low-potassium food but check with your doctor or dietitian to find out how often you should eat them. What meats and fish are best for a low-potassium diet?

In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA [see Drug Interactions (7)]. Instruct patients to empty the entire contents of the packet(s) into a drinking glass containing approximately 3 tablespoons of water or more if desired.

Have no more than 1 serving of potato/ starchy vegetable per day. Other lower potassium carbohydrate options include pasta, rice, noodles, bread. Protein foods Nuts and seeds. Aduki beans, pinto beans, soya beans.

Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Food

Foods high in potassium such as orange juice and other fruit juices may reduce the effectiveness of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in treating your condition. Do not mix sodium polystyrene sulfonate in fruit juice or drink fruit juice with it.

Does Lokelma cause weight gain? ›

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Lokelma contains sodium and may cause swelling or rapid weight gain. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

LOKELMA starts to lower your potassium within one hour of taking it. The amount of decrease depends on your starting potassium level. Most patients have normal levels within 24 to 48 hours of treatment.

Lokelma 10 g administered three times daily lowered serum potassium by 0.7 mmol/L at 48 hours (p < 0.001 vs. placebo); statistically significant 14% potassium reduction was observed 1 hour after the first dose. Patients with higher starting potassium levels had a greater response to Lokelma.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Lokelma contains sodium and may cause swelling or rapid weight gain. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

The FDA approval of Lokelma was based on data from three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and two open-label trials, which showed that for patients receiving Lokelma the onset of action was at 1.0 hour and the median time to achieving normal potassium levels in the blood was 2.2 hours, with 92% of patients ...