what does a phosphate binder do

What is a phosphate binder and why is it used?

Phosphorus binders (also called phosphate binders) prevent the body from absorbing the phosphorus from the food you eat. Phosphorus binders help to pass excess phosphorus out of the body in the stool, reducing the amount of phosphorus that gets into the blood.

Why do dialysis patients take phosphate binders?

Phosphate binders are prescribed to dialysis patients to help prevent extra phosphorus from being absorbed from food into the bloodstream.

Who should take phosphate binders?

Phosphate binders are used to decrease the absorption of phosphate from food in the digestive tract. They are used when there is an abnormally high blood phosphate level (hyperphosphatemia) which can be caused by impaired renal phosphate excretion or increased extracellular fluid phosphate loads.

What are the side effects of a phosphorus binder?

In common with all oral phosphate binders, lanthanum carbonate causes some GI side effects in around 20% of patients, but these seem to be relatively minor in most (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation).

Do all dialysis patients need phosphate binders?

Although dialysis removes phosphorus, it usually does not remove enough, and many patients require phosphorus-binding drugs. Selection of an appropriate binder should consider serum calcium levels, pill burden, serum iron stores, and cost.

How often should dialysis patients take phosphorus binders?

The other newer non-calcium-based binders – sevelamer, lanthanum and sucroferric oxyhydroxide – are only available under the PBS for dialysis patients. For all binders except lanthanum and sucroferric oxyhydroxide, the starting dose is typically 1–2 tablets three times daily with each meal, depending on potency.

What causes high phosphorus levels?

What causes high phosphorus? High phosphorus is often a sign of kidney damage or disease. Healthy kidneys balance the phosphorus in your body by removing any extra phosphorus from your blood. If you have kidney disease, your kidneys may not remove extra phosphorus.

How do you lower phosphorus quickly?

Here are seven methods to help control high levels of phosphorus:Reduce the amount of phosphorus you eat. ... Take phosphorus binders. ... Take vitamin D. ... Take a calcimimetic medicine. ... Stay on dialysis the entire time. ... Start an exercise program approved by a doctor. ... Get an operation to remove some of the parathyroid glands.

Do phosphate binders cause constipation?

GI symptoms are the most common side effects with the use of calcium-based phosphate binders and a frequent reason for their discontinuation (17). Constipation is commonly reported with calcium carbonate, while nausea (6.1%) and vomiting (4.1%) are common with calcium acetate (17).

What happens to your body when your phosphorus is too high?

Extra phosphorus causes body changes that pull calcium out of your bones, making them weak. High phosphorus and calcium levels also lead to dangerous calcium deposits in blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart. Over time this can lead to increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death.

What are three symptoms of phosphorus deficiency?

Symptoms appearing with a phosphorus deficiency:Poor appetite.Anemia.Muscle weakness.Bone pain.Bone disease (osteomalacia, rickets)Confusion.Increased susceptibility to infections.

What is the major deficiency symptoms of phosphorus?

Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency include loss of appetite, anxiety, bone pain, fragile bones, stiff joints, fatigue, irregular breathing, irritability, numbness, weakness, and weight change. In children, decreased growth and poor bone and tooth development may occur.

What are side effects of high phosphorus in dialysis patients?

A high phosphate level is often a sign of kidney damage. It's more common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in those with end-stage kidney disease....What are the symptoms?muscle cramps or spasms.numbness and tingling around the mouth.bone and joint pain.weak bones.rash.itchy skin.

Why do patients with kidney disease need to take phosphate binders such as sevelamer or calcium acetate?

The balance between dietary intake and excretion of phosphorus can be impaired in patients with decreased renal function, leading to hyperphosphatemia. Many patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis require phosphorus-binding drugs to control their serum phosphorus levels.

When do you initiate a phosphate binder?

It is recommended to initiate phosphate binder therapy when: (a) serum phosphorus levels remain elevated, despite restriction of dietary phosphate restriction; or (b) the restriction of phosphate intake hinders the intake of other critical nutrients.

Why do patients on dialysis need more protein?

On Dialysis: Increase Protein On the other hand, once a person has started dialysis, a higher amount of protein in the diet is necessary to help maintain blood protein levels and improve health. Dialysis removes protein waste from the blood, so a low protein diet is no longer needed.

How does phosphate binder work?

Phosphorus binders work in one of two ways. Some phosphate binders, such as Renvela, work like a sponge and soak up the phosphates in the food so that it doesn’t get into the blood. Instead it is carried through the digestive tract and eliminated in the stool.

What is a phosphorus binder?

This is where phosphorus binders come in. Phosphorus binders (also called phosphate binders) prevent the body from absorbing the phosphorus from the food you eat. Phosphorus binders help to pass excess phosphorus out of the body in the stool, reducing the amount of phosphorus that gets into the blood. Usually phosphate binders are taken within 5 ...

What is magnesium based phosphate binder?

Magnesium-based phosphorus binders may be used as an alternative to calcium-based phosphate binders when it’s necessary for a patient to have a lower calcium intake. Magnesium levels should be monitored. This phosphate binder may be appropriate for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, who tend to run lower magnesium levels.

Why do people use phosphorus binders?

Some people may be prescribed a combination of phosphorus binders to help keep their phosphorus level in a healthy range.

What is the phosphorus level on dialysis?

People on dialysis get monthly lab results that show if their phosphorus level is in a healthy range (3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL, or as close to the laboratory reference range as possible). If your phosphorus levels are not in a healthy range, you can talk with your doctor or dietitian and take action to change what you are eating.

Is aluminum a long term phosphorus binder?

Aluminum-based phosphorus binders have been shown to have toxic side effects that cause bone disease and damage the nervous system, therefore they are rarely prescribed as a long-term phosphorus binder today. Aluminum based binders may be prescribed for short term use when phosphorus is poorly controlled and other binders are not effective.

Is Tums a phosphate binder?

Tums is a form of calcium carbonate, which can also be effective. Because most people need to take several phosphate binders with every meal, there may be concern about dialysis patients absorbing too much calcium from these medicines, so calcium levels must be monitored.

What are Phosphate binders?

Phosphate binders are used to decrease the absorption of phosphate from food in the digestive tract.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

How do phosphate binders work?

These agents work by binding to phosphate in the GI tract, thereby making it unavailable to the body for absorption. Hence, these drugs are usually taken with meals to bind any phosphate that may be present in the ingested food. Phosphate binders may be simple molecular entities (such as magnesium, aluminium, calcium, or lanthanum salts) that react with phosphate and form an insoluble compound. Phosphate binders such as sevelamer may also be polymeric structures which bind to phosphate and are then excreted.

What is a phosphate binder?

Phosphate binders are medications used to reduce the absorption of dietary phosphate; they are taken along with meals and snacks. They are frequently used in people with chronic kidney failure (CKF), who are less able to excrete phosphate, resulting in an elevated serum phosphate.

Why is phosphate important for kidney failure?

For people with chronic kidney failure, controlling serum phosphate is important because it is associated with bone pathology and regulated together with serum calcium by the parathyroid hormone (PTH). [1] They are also used in hypoparathyroidism which presents with hypocalcemia with hyperphosphatemia .

Can phosphate binders cause osteomalacia?

With regard to phosphate binders, aluminium-containing compounds (such as aluminium hydroxide) are the least preferred because prolonged aluminium intake can cause encephalopathy and osteomalacia. If calcium is already being used as a supplement, additional calcium used as a phosphate binder may cause hypercalcemia and tissue-damaging calcinosis.

What is a phosphate binder?

A phosphate binder (also referred to as a phosphorus binder) is a pill your doctor has prescribed to control the amount of phosphorus in your blood. You likely are given one of the following common binders: Renagel® / Renvela® / Fosrenol® (non-calcium-based binders)

How do binders work?

Some binders work like magnets, while others work like sponges. They bind to or soak up phosphorus in food during digestion. Then the binders and phosphorus are removed through bowel movements. If a binder is not taken, phosphorus can accumulate in the blood.

Why is phosphorus important for the body?

Phosphorus is a mineral utilized by the body to build bones and teeth, to maintain proper pH balance and to transport oxygen to the body’s tissues. Phosphorus is necessary to maintain good health but high phosphorus levels can lead to heart disease and other complications when a person has chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is on dialysis. Phosphate binders are prescribed to dialysis patients to help prevent extra phosphorus from being absorbed from food into the bloodstream.

What happens if you have high phosphorus levels?

High phosphorus levels can cause: Weak, brittle bones that break easily. Itchy skin and hard bumps under your skin. Damage to your heart, blood vessels and lungs.

When to take binders?

Timing is everything: Be sure to take your binders when you eat food — the longer you wait, the less they work.

Do you need extra binders if you eat phosphorus?

You may need extra binders if you eat high phosphorus foods or a larger meal.

Is phosphorus a mineral?

Phosphorus is a very common mineral and can be found in many processed foods and cola drinks. It is so prevalent that phosphorus intake from food additives alone in the American diet has increased from 500 mg/day in the 1990s to more than 1,000 mg/day.

How do phosphorus binders work?

Phosphorus binders reduce serum phosphorus levels by binding with ingested phosphorus in the gastrointestinal tract and forming insoluble complexes that are not absorbed. For this reason they are much more effective when taken with meals. Phosphorus binders come in different formulations: pills, capsules, chewable tablets, liquids, and even powders that can be sprinkled on food.

Why is phosphorus binder important?

Phosphorus binders are a major portion of the pill burden in patients with end-stage renal disease, possibly affecting patient adherence.

What is the best treatment for hyperphosphatemia?

In caring for patients with chronic kidney disease, it is important to prevent and treat hyperphosphatemia with a combination of dietary restrictions and phosphorus binders. This review describes the pathophysiology and control of hyperphosphatemia and the different classes of phosphorus binders with respect to their availability, cost, side effects, and scenarios in which one class of binder may be more beneficial than another.

What hormones affect phosphorus excretion?

3. Absorbed phosphorus enters the extracellular fluid and shifts in and out of the skeleton under the influence of parathyroid hormone. Phosphorus excretion is handled almost entirely by the kidneys.

How much phosphorus is removed from a diet during dialysis?

If 70% of the phosphorus in the diet is absorbed, this is 4,500 to 5,000 mg in a week. A 4-hour hemodialysis session will remove only 1,000 mg of phosphorus, which equals about 3,000 mg for patients undergoing dialysis 3 times a week, 22 far less than phosphorus absorption.

What is the function of phosphate?

Phosphorus is a macronutrient essential for a range of cellular functions that include structure, energy production, metabolism, and cell signaling. It exists primarily in the form of inorganic phosphate.

What should be considered when selecting a binder?

Selection of an appropriate binder should consider serum calcium levels, pill burden, serum iron stores, and cost. T he balance between dietary intake and excretion of phosphorus can be impaired in patients with decreased renal function, leading to hyperphosphatemia.

What is phosphate binder used for?

Phosphate binders are used to prevent and treat stomach ulcers, esophageal reflux or heartburn and the reduction of hyperphosphatemia or the increased amount of phosphorous in the blood in patients with kidney failure. Though the FDA approves phosphate binders for use in large animals only, it has been commonly used for treatment in small animal medicine.

Can phosphorous binders be stored at room temperature?

Phosphorous binders come in powders, capsules or suspensions and must be stored at room temperature. Treatment dosages depend upon the stage of kidney disease, the size of the dog and the response to the treatment. It may be difficult to administer dosages since the phosphorous binders do not have a pleasant taste.

What is a phosphate binder pack?

Aquascape® Lake Phosphate Binder Packs quickly bind large amounts of phosphate which otherwise cause issues with water quality and clarity in lakes and large ponds. This specially-formulated treatment will effectively reduce maintenance and bind orthophosphate. Simply toss the easy-to-use water-soluble packs directly into the water. The packs will dose the water column evenly and make it easy to treat hard to reach areas. This treatment is for lake and large pond use only and may cause issues, such as dangerous pH swings, in smaller enclosed systems. Safe for fish, plants, and animals when used as directed.

Can you use water soluble packs in a pond?

Simply toss the easy-to-use water-soluble packs directly into the water. The packs will dose the water column evenly and make it easy to treat hard to reach areas. This treatment is for lake and large pond use only and may cause issues, such as dangerous pH swings, in smaller enclosed systems.

Overview

Phosphate binders are medications used to reduce the absorption of dietary phosphate; they are taken along with meals and snacks. They are frequently used in people with chronic kidney failure (CKF), who are less able to excrete phosphate, resulting in an elevated serum phosphate.

Mechanism of action

Medical use

Adverse effects

External links