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PRECAUTIONS: Before using sodium polystyrene sulfonate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: blockage of the stomach/intestines, low level of potassium in the blood.This medication contains a large amount of salt (sodium). If you have any of these conditions listed below, follow your doctor's instructions for limiting the amount of sodium in your diet. Do not use salt substitutes that contain potassium without asking your doctor first.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, heart failure, high blood pressure, swelling hands/ankles/feet.Older adults may be at greater risk for severe constipation.This medication must not be given by mouth to newborns. Also, newborns with slow gut function must not use this drug. Newborns and children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially severe constipation and intestinal problems.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk, and the effect on a nursing infant is unknown. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: antacids/laxatives that contain magnesium (such as magnesium hydroxide).If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting sodium polystyrene sulfonate.If you are taking sodium polystyrene sulfonate by mouth, other antacids and laxatives (such as calcium carbonate, aluminum carbonate, aluminum hydroxide) may also affect how well it works if they are used at the same time. These products may also increase the risk of side effects with this medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which products you can safely use.Taking the laxative sorbitol with sodium polystyrene sulfonate by mouth is not recommended because doing so may cause serious intestinal problems in some people. If you are using sodium polystyrene sulfonate rectally with sorbitol, using a cleansing enema after the dose of this medication may help to decrease the risk of intestinal side effects. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use.This medication may decrease the absorption of levothyroxine into your bloodstream. Therefore, if you take levothyroxine, take it 4 hours before or 4 hours after using this medication.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration   You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Need help identifying pills and medications? Use the pill identifier tool on RxList.