Cellulose Sodium Phosphate (Systemic)

Brand Names : Calcibind

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cellulose sodium phosphate, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cellulose sodium phosphate. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet. Also tell your health care professional if your diet contains large amounts of milk or other dairy products, spinach (or other dark green leafy vegetables), chocolate, brewed tea, or rhubarb or if you are taking vitamin C or magnesium supplements.

Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in either humans or animals. However, pregnant women usually need more calcium in their diet, and should not take cellulose sodium phosphate unless it is clearly needed. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether cellulose sodium phosphate passes into breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Although there is no specific information comparing use of cellulose sodium phosphate in children with use in any other age group, its use is not recommended in children up to 16 years of age because of the increased need for calcium in growing children.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of cellulose sodium phosphate in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cellulose sodium phosphate, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Calcium supplements, or calcium containing antacids or laxatives - Use may lead to too much calcium in the body, preventing the cellulose sodium phosphate from working properly

• Magnesium supplements, or magnesium containing antacids or laxatives - Cellulose sodium phosphate and magnesium should not be taken within 1 hour of each other

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cellulose sodium phosphate. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bone disease - Cellulose sodium phosphate may make the condition worse

• Edema or swelling or
• Heart disease - The high sodium content of cellulose sodium phosphate may cause the body to hold water

• Intestinal problems or
• Parathyroid disease or problems - Cellulose sodium phosphate may increase the risk of bone problems