Lokelma

Lokelma is a prescription medication used to treat adults with high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia).

Lokelma belongs to a group of drugs called potassium binders. It increases potassium excretion through binding of potassium in the gastrointestinal tract which in turn lowers blood potassium levels.

This medication comes in powder form to be mixed in water. It is taken by mouth 3 times daily for up to 48 hours. Lokelma is taken once daily for maintenance treatment.

Common side effects include edema (excess fluid in the lungs or swelling in the hands, feet, arms, or legs).

Lokelma is a prescription medication used to treat adults with hyperkalemia (high blood potassium).

Lokelma should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lokelma. See the “Lokelma Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Lokelma include the following:

• edema (excess fluid in the lungs or swelling in the hands, feet, arms, or legs).
• low blood potassium

This is not a complete list of Lokelma side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• drugs that are weak acids, such as furosemide and atorvastatin
• drugs that are weak bases, such as dabigatran

This is not a complete list of Lokelma drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lokelma including the following:

• Edema. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of edema.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of the hands, feet, arms, or legs

Do not take Lokelma if you:

• are allergic to Lokelma or to any of its ingredients
• are constipated or have blockages in your bowels
• have any other movement disorder of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Lokelma, your doctor may recommend that you decrease your intake of dietary sodium.

Before taking Lokelma, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Lokelma or to any of its ingredients
• have or have had severe constipation or blockage of your bowels
• have any other movement disorder of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• have heart problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Lokelma is not absorbed into the body and is not expected to cause harm to babies when taken by pregnant mothers.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Lokelma is not absorbed into the body and is not expected to be present in human breast milk when taken by pregnant mothers.

Take Lokelma exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in powder form and is to be mixed in water.

Add the entire contents of a packet of powder to a glass with at least 3 tablespoons of water. Stir well and drink immediately. Be sure to finish the entire glass to get the whole dose.

Take other medications at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Lokelma.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended dose of Lokelma for the treatment of low blood potassium is 10 grams 3 times daily for up to 48 hours.

For continued treatment, the recommended dose is 10 grams once daily.

The recommended maintenance dose range is from 5 g every other day to 15 g daily.

If you take too much Lokelma, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center attention right away.

• Store Lokelma at room temperature at 15°C-30°C (59°F-86°F).
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.