Find the answers to common questions about high potassium and VELTASSA

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Potassium is an important nutrient that helps keep your muscles working properly and your heartbeat regular. In people with healthy kidneys, extra potassium is removed from the body. But if your kidneys aren’t working well, they might not be able to do what they’re supposed to—and the potassium levels in your blood can become higher than normal. That condition is called high potassium (or hyperkalemia), and it can lead to serious health issues.

High potassium can cause serious, life-threatening health issues—such as irregular heartbeat and other heart problems—and can possibly lead to hospitalization. Learn more.

Yes. There are medications available to treat high potassium. VELTASSA is a prescription medication used to treat high levels of potassium in your blood. When taken daily, VELTASSA helps control potassium levels. In a 52-week clinical study, up to 95% of people taking VELTASSA reduced their potassium levels and kept them normal (3.8 to < 5.1 mEq/L) over time. After a 2-week dose-finding phase of a clinical study, 50% of pediatric patients had normal potassium levels (3.8 to < 5.0 mEq/L). Learn more.

VELTASSA is a prescription medication with a sodium-free exchange that is taken once a day to treat high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia).

You mix VELTASSA (in its powder form) with 1/3 cup of water, soft foods, or other beverages and drink or eat it. It’s important to take VELTASSA every day as prescribed by your doctor. If you stop taking VELTASSA, even for a few days, your potassium levels can increase. In a clinical study, patients who stopped taking VELTASSA experienced an increase in their potassium levels within 1 week.

Although VELTASSA should be refrigerated, you can store it at room temperature for up to 3 months. That means you can travel or be away from your refrigerator and still keep up with treatment. Once VELTASSA is removed from the refrigerator, do not re-refrigerate it. Learn how to store VELTASSA.

VELTASSA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Worsening of bowel function
  • Low levels of magnesium in your blood (hypomagnesemia). Low levels of magnesium in the blood can happen when taking VELTASSA. Your doctor will check the magnesium levels in your blood during treatment with VELTASSA and may prescribe a magnesium supplement.

The most common side effects of VELTASSA in adult patients include: constipation, low levels of magnesium, diarrhea, nausea, stomach-area (abdominal) discomfort, and gas. The safety profile of VELTASSA in a study in pediatric patients was similar to that in adults.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of VELTASSA. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Here are some foods that are high in potassium, so limit them in your diet:

Fruits

Avocados, bananas, oranges, nectarines, kiwifruit, mangos, papayas, prunes, pomegranates

Vegetables

Brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes and tomato products, spinach, beans and legumes, vegetable juices

Other

Salt substitute, milk, granola, nuts and seeds, peanut butter

Ever wonder how much potassium is in the foods you eat? Find out with our Potassium Counter.

Be sure to speak with your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet.

Support is available to help you get VELTASSA and stay on VELTASSA.

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VELTASSA is a prescription medication used to treat high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia). It is approved for use in adults and pediatric patients ages 12 years and older.

Important Safety Information Back to Top

Who should not take VELTASSA?

Do not take VELTASSA if you are allergic to VELTASSA or any of its ingredients.

What should I tell my doctor before taking VELTASSA?

Before you take VELTASSA, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have problems having a bowel movement, including if you have severe constipation, a blockage (obstruction) in your bowel, or dry hard stool that will not pass out of your rectum (impaction)
  • have problems with your bowels after surgery

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What are the possible side effects of VELTASSA?

VELTASSA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Worsening of bowel function
  • Low levels of magnesium in your blood (hypomagnesemia). Low levels of magnesium in the blood can happen when taking VELTASSA. Your doctor will check the magnesium levels in your blood during treatment with VELTASSA and may prescribe a magnesium supplement.

The most common side effects of VELTASSA in adult patients include: constipation, low levels of magnesium, diarrhea, nausea, stomach-area (abdominal) discomfort, and gas. The safety profile of VELTASSA in a study in pediatric patients was similar to that in adults.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of VELTASSA. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive and does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. To learn more about VELTASSA, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

VELTASSA is a prescription medication used to treat high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia). It is approved for use in adults and pediatric patients ages 12 years and older.

Important Safety Information Back to Top

Who should not take VELTASSA?

Do not take VELTASSA if you are allergic to VELTASSA or any of its ingredients.

What should I tell my doctor before taking VELTASSA?

Before you take VELTASSA, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have problems having a bowel movement, including if you have severe constipation, a blockage (obstruction) in your bowel, or dry hard stool that will not pass out of your rectum (impaction)
  • have problems with your bowels after surgery

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What are the possible side effects of VELTASSA?

VELTASSA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Worsening of bowel function
  • Low levels of magnesium in your blood (hypomagnesemia). Low levels of magnesium in the blood can happen when taking VELTASSA. Your doctor will check the magnesium levels in your blood during treatment with VELTASSA and may prescribe a magnesium supplement.

The most common side effects of VELTASSA in adult patients include: constipation, low levels of magnesium, diarrhea, nausea, stomach-area (abdominal) discomfort, and gas. The safety profile of VELTASSA in a study in pediatric patients was similar to that in adults.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of VELTASSA. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive and does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. To learn more about VELTASSA, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Please click here for full Prescribing Information.