About Calcium Resonium Powder

What is Calcium Resonium powder used for?

Calcium Resonium powder, formulated as calcium polystyrene sulfate 99.934% w/w is a powder for oral or rectal suspension that is used in the treatment of hyperkalemia that is associated with anuria/severe oliguria (a condition where the kidney produces a low amount of urine or stops producing urine entirely as a result of disease or damage to the kidneys)

Calcium Resonium powder is also used in the treatment of hyperkalemia in patients that require dialysis, regular hemodialysis, and prolonged peritoneal dialysis.

Calcium Resonium helps reduce the serum potassium levels and postpones the need for dialysis until other issues make it necessary.

How does Calcium Resonium Powder treat hyperkalemia?

Calcium Resonium is a cation exchange resin that is insoluble in water and is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Calcium Resonium acts by removing potassium ions that are excreted in the feces. When the resin passes through the colon, it comes in contact with fluids containing an increasing amount of potassium ions and takes up the potassium ion in exchange for calcium ions. The longer the resin stays in the body, the higher its effectiveness. It should also be noted that the outcome is highly variable and the resin is also not selective for potassium.

How is calcium Resonium powder used?

For adults and the elderly, calcium Resonium can be administered orally or rectally. The dosage is 15g 3-4 times a day as a suspension in a small amount of water (but not juices that may contain potassium). The medication should be administered 3 hours before or after other oral medications. Rectal administration is to be reserved for patients who are vomiting or have upper gastrointestinal tract issues and should be given at a dosage of 30g in 150ml of water or 10% dextrose.

For children, an oral dosage of 1g/kg is recommended in acute hyperkalemia and reduced to 0.5 g/kg body weight daily. For rectal administration, the dosage for oral administration is to be followed and diluted with 2-3ml of water per gram of powder as with adults.

Calcium Resonium powder should not be administered orally to neonates. The recommended dosage is 0.5g per kg of body weight and diluted with 2-3ml of water per gram of powder as with adults.

What are the side effects of Calcium Resonium Powder?

Patients using Calcium Resonium Powder may experience any of the following side effects:

Hypokalemia
Hypercalcemia
Anorexia
Nausea
Hypomagnesia
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Gastric irritation
Constipation
Fecal impaction (following rectal administration)
Ischemic colitis
Gastro-intestinal tract ulceration or necrosis
Gastrointestinal concretions (bezoars)
Acute bronchitis
Broncho-pneumonia

Should you notice any of these side effects or deterioration in the quality of life while using calcium Resonium powder, consult your doctor immediately.

When can I use Kayexalate?

Kayexalate is a medication containing sodium polystyrene sulfonate in a fine powder form which is a cation-exchange resin prepared in the sodium phase. Kayexalate is used in treating hyperkalemia by removing potassium ions in the colon or small intestine by cation exchange with sodium.