Do not take Renvela if:
you have low levels of phosphate in your blood (your doctor will check this for you) you have bowel obstruction
you are allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substance or to any of the other ingredients of the product (see Section 6).
Take special care with Renvela
If any of the following applies to you, please consult your doctor before taking Renvela swallowing problems problems with motility movement in your stomach and bowel being sick frequently active inflammation of the bowel have undergone major surgery on your stomach or bowel. The safety and efficacy in children below the age of 18 years has not been established. Therefore Renvela is not recommended for use in children.
Additional treatments:
Due to either your kidney condition or your dialysis treatment you may:
develop low or high levels of calcium in your blood. Since Renvela does not contain calcium your doctor might prescribe additional calcium tablets.
have a low amount of vitamin D in your blood. Therefore, your doctor may monitor the levels of vitamin D in your blood and prescribe additional vitamin D as necessary. If you do not take multivitamin supplements you may also develop low levels of vitamins A, E, K and folic acid in your blood and therefore your doctor may monitor these levels and prescribe supplemental vitamins as necessary.
Special note for patients on peritoneal dialysis:
You may develop peritonitis (infection of your abdominal fluid) associated with your peritoneal dialysis. This risk can be reduced by careful adherence to sterile techniques during bag changes. You should tell your doctor immediately if you experience any new signs or symptoms of abdominal distress,abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, or abdominal rigidity, constipation, fever, chills, nausea or vomiting.
You should expect to be monitored more carefully for problems with low levels of vitamins A, D, E, K and folic acid.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Renvela should not be taken at the same time as ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic).
If you are taking medicines for heart rhythm problems or for epilepsy, you should consult your doctor when taking Renvela.
The effects of medicines such as ciclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus (medicines used to suppress the immune system) may be reduced by Renvela. Your doctor will advise you if you are taking these medicines.
Thyroid hormone deficiency may uncommonly be observed in certain people taking levothyroxine (used to treat low thyroid hormone levels) and Renvela. Therefore your doctor may monitor the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in your blood more closely.
Your doctor will check for interactions between Renvela and other medicines on a regular basis.
Taking Renvela with food and drink
You must take Renvela powder with meals.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. It is unknown whether Renvela has any affect on unborn babies.
Tell your doctor if you wish to breast-feed your baby. It is unknown whether Renvela may pass through breast milk and affect your baby.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines has been performed. If you are affected, do not drive and do not use any tools or machines.
