How to prepare VELTASSA

It's important to take VELTASSA every day, with or without food, as prescribed by your doctor. If you stop taking VELTASSA, even for a few days, your potassium levels can increase. Here's how to properly prepare VELTASSA.

Hand pouring VELTASSA (patiromer) into glass

Mix

  • Measure the recommended minimum amount (1/3 cup or about 3 ounces*) of water, other beverages, or soft foods such as applesauce, yogurt, or pudding in a measuring cup
  • Pour half of the water, other beverage, or soft food into an empty drinking glass
  • Pour all of the VELTASSA packet contents into the drinking glass with water, other beverage, or soft food
  • Stir the mixture well
Hand stirring VELTASSA (patiromer)  in glass

Add

  • Pour the rest of the water, other beverage, or soft food from the measuring cup into the drinking glass containing the mixture
  • Stir the mixture well
  • The powder will not dissolve in liquids and the mixture will look cloudy. If the mixture is too thick, you can add more water, other beverage, or soft food
Man drinking glass containing VELTASSA (patiromer)

Drink or eat immediately

  • Drink or eat the mixture right away. If any powder is left in the glass after drinking or eating, add more water, other beverage, or soft food, stir the mixture, and drink or eat the remaining mixture right away
  • Repeat as needed to make sure you take your entire dose of VELTASSA
  • The specified starting amount of water, other beverage, or soft food for all doses is about half of 1/3 cup. The remaining water, other beverage, or soft food should be added after stirring the powder in the starting amount of water, other beverage, or soft food.
  • The potassium content of liquids or soft foods to prepare the mixture should be considered as part of each patient's dietary restrictions.
  • You may need more than 1 packet of VELTASSA for your prescribed dose. Make sure to follow the dosing instructions prescribed by your doctor.
Quick guide for preparing and taking VELTASSA (patiromer)

Check out this quick guide for preparing and taking VELTASSA

The Do’s and Don’ts of taking VELTASSA

Do:

  • Prepare each dose of VELTASSA separately
  • Follow the diet that your doctor has prescribed for you
  • Mix VELTASSA with water, other beverage, or soft food

Do not:

  • Do not take VELTASSA that has not been mixed with water, other beverage, or soft food
  • Do not heat, microwave, or add VELTASSA to heated food or liquids
  • Do not mix VELTASSA in a blender

Be sure to take VELTASSA as your doctor tells you to take it. Your doctor may change your dose if needed and will check your potassium levels during treatment. Also, some orally administered medications need to be taken 3 hours before or 3 hours after VELTASSA. Ask your doctor if this applies to you.

Important facts about VELTASSA

VELTASSA icon

Easy single-use packets

VELTASSA comes as a powder in single-use packets that you mix with 1/3 of a cup of water, other beverage, or soft food, and then drink or eat it.

Bag with VELTASSA icon

Take it on the go

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.

Drinking glass and VELTASSA icon

Color may vary

VELTASSA is an off-white to light-brown powder. The color may vary when mixed with water, other beverage, or soft food.

Nose with air particles icon

No taste or smell

In a small study, most people found that VELTASSA has no taste or smell.1

Important: VELTASSA must be used within 3 months of being taken out of the refrigerator. Do not use VELTASSA after the expiration date printed on the packet. Do not expose VELTASSA to heat above 104°F (40°C).

§Room temperature for VELTASSA storage should be 73°F to 81°F (23°C to 27°C).

Reference: 1. Brenner M, Panov N, Du Mond C, Garza D. Palatability profile of patiromer, a once-daily oral potassium binder for the treatment of hyperkalemia. Poster presented at the 51st Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Las Vegas, NV, December 4–8, 2016.

Once you’ve started VELTASSA, it’s important to continue VELTASSA. Helpful tips are available.

View tips

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.