Get your patient on Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate - Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate suspension (Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate)
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate - Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate suspension prescribing information
INDICATION AND USAGE
SPS ® Suspension is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension at least 3 hours before or 3 hours after other oral medications. Patients with gastroparesis may require a 6 hour separation (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS, Drug Interactions ).
The average daily adult dose is 15 g (60 mL) to 60 g (240 mL) of suspension. This is best provided by administering 15 g (60 mL) of SPS ® Suspension one to four times daily. Each 60 mL of SPS ® Suspension contains 1500 mg (65 mEq) of sodium. Since the in-vivo efficiency of sodium-potassium exchange resins is approximately 33%, about one-third of the resin's actual sodium content is being delivered to the body.
In smaller children and infants, lower doses should be employed by using as a guide a rate of 1 mEq of potassium per gram of resin as the basis for calculation. Administer with patient in an upright position (see WARNINGS ).
SPS ® Suspension may be introduced into the stomach through a plastic tube and, if desired, given with a diet appropriate for a patient in renal failure.
SPS ® Suspension may also be given, although with less effective results, as an enema consisting (for adults) of 30 g (120 mL) to 50 g (200 mL) every six hours. The enema should be retained as long as possible and followed by a cleansing enema.
After an initial cleansing enema, a soft, large size (French 28) rubber tube is inserted into the rectum for a distance of about 20 cm, with the tip well into the sigmoid colon, and taped into place. The suspension is introduced at body temperature by gravity. The suspension is flushed with 50 or 100 mL of fluid, following which the tube is clamped and left in place. If back leakage occurs, the hips are elevated on pillows or a knee-chest position is taken temporarily. The suspension is kept in the sigmoid colon for several hours, if possible. Then the colon is irrigated with a sodium-free cleansing enema at body temperature in order to remove the resin. Two quarts of flushing solution may be necessary. The returns are drained constantly through a Y tube connection. Particular attention should be paid to this cleansing enema, because sorbitol is present in the vehicle.
The intensity and duration of therapy depend upon the severity and resistance of hyperkalemia.
SPS ® Suspension should not be heated for to do so may alter the exchange properties of the resin.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
SPS ® Suspension is contraindicated in the following conditions: patients with hypokalemia, patients with a history of hypersensitivity to polystyrene sulfonate resins, obstructive bowel disease, oral or rectal administration in neonates (See PRECAUTIONS ).
ADVERSE REACTIONS
SPS ® Suspension may cause some degree of gastric irritation. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and constipation may occur especially if high doses are given. Also, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia and significant sodium retention, and their related clinical manifestations, may occur (See WARNINGS ). Occasionally diarrhea develops. Large doses in elderly individuals may cause fecal impaction (See PRECAUTIONS ). Rare instances of intestinal necrosis have been reported. Intestinal obstruction due to concretions of aluminum hydroxide, when used in combination with sodium polystyrene sulfonate, has been reported.
The following events have been reported from worldwide post marketing experience:
- Fecal impaction following rectal administration, particularly in children;
- Gastrointestinal concretions (bezoars) following oral administration;
- Ischemic colitis, gastrointestinal tract ulceration or necrosis which could lead to intestinal perforation; and
- Rare cases of acute bronchitis and/or bronchopneumonia associated with inhalation of particles of polystyrene sulfonate (see WARNINGS ).
To report suspected adverse reactions, contact CMP Pharma, Inc., toll free at 1-844-321-1443 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Drug Interactions
General Interactions
No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted in humans. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension has the potential to bind other drugs. In in-vitro binding studies, sodium polystyrene sulfonate was shown to significantly bind the oral medications (n=6) that were tested. Decreased absorption of lithium and thyroxine have also been reported with co-administration of sodium polystyrene sulfonate. Binding of sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension to other oral medications could cause decreased gastrointestinal absorption and loss of efficacy when taken close to the time sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension is administered. Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension at least 3 hours before or 3 hours after other oral medications. Patients with gastroparesis may require a 6 hour separation. Monitor for clinical response and/or blood levels where possible.
Antacids
The simultaneous oral administration of sodium polystyrene sulfonate with nonabsorbable cation-donating antacids and laxatives may reduce the resin's potassium exchange capability.
Nonabsorbable cation-donating antacids and laxatives
Systemic alkalosis has been reported after cation exchange resins were administered orally in combination with nonabsorbable cation-donating antacids and laxatives such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum carbonate. Magnesium hydroxide should not be administered with sodium polystyrene sulfonate. One case of grand mal seizure has been reported in a patient with chronic hypocalcemia of renal failure who was given sodium polystyrene sulfonate with magnesium hydroxide as a laxative.
Intestinal obstruction due to concretions of aluminum hydroxide when used in combination with sodium polystyrene sulfonate has been reported.
Digitalis
The toxic effects of digitalis on the heart, especially various ventricular arrhythmias and A-V nodal dissociation, are likely to be exaggerated by hypokalemia, even in the face of serum digoxin concentrations in the "normal range" (See WARNINGS ).
Sorbitol
Concomitant use of sorbitol with sodium polystyrene sulfonate has been implicated in cases of intestinal necrosis, which may be fatal (See WARNINGS ).
Lithium
SPS ® Suspension may decrease absorption of lithium.
Thyroxine
SPS ® Suspension may decrease absorption of thyroxine.
DESCRIPTION
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Suspension USP (SPS ® Suspension) can be administered orally or in an enema. It is a cherry-flavored suspension containing 15 grams of cation-exchange resin (Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate USP); 21.5 mL of Sorbitol Solution USP (equivalent to approximately 20 grams of Sorbitol) ; 0.18 mL (0.3%) of Alcohol per 60 mL of suspension. Also contains Purified Water USP; Propylene Glycol USP; Magnesium Aluminum Silicate NF; Sodium Saccharin USP; Methylparaben NF; Propylparaben NF; and flavor.
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is a benzene, diethenyl-, polymer with ethenylbenzene, sulfonated, sodium salt and has the following structural formula:

The sodium content of the suspension is 1500 mg (65 mEq) per 60 mL. It is a brown, slightly viscous suspension with an in‑vitro exchange capacity of approximately 3.1 mEq ( in-vivo approximately 1 mEq) of potassium per 4 mL (1 gram) of suspension. It can be administered orally or in an enema.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
As the resin passes along the intestine or is retained in the colon after administration by enema, the sodium ions are partially released and are replaced by potassium ions. For the most part, this action occurs in the large intestine, which excretes potassium ions to a greater degree than does the small intestine. The efficiency of this process is limited and unpredictably variable. It commonly approximates the order of 33%, but the range is so large that definitive indices of electrolyte balance must be clearly monitored.
Metabolic data are unavailable.
HOW SUPPLIED
SPS ® Suspension is a light brown, cherry-flavored suspension supplied in pint (473 mL) bottles (NDC 46287-006-01), 120 mL bottles (NDC 46287-006-04), and 60 mL unit dose bottles, 10 bottles per carton (NDC 46287-006-60).
Dispense in a tight container, as defined in the USP. If repackaging into other containers, store in refrigerator and use within 14 days of packaging.
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING.
Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
CMP Pharma, Inc. P.O. Box 147 Farmville, North Carolina 27828
Revised August 2021
3081 R0821