SPS Suspension

Pronunciation: SOE-dee-um POL-ee-STYE-reen SUL-foe-nate
Generic Name: Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Brand Name: Examples include Kionex and SPS

SPS Suspension is used for:

Treating high potassium levels in the blood.

SPS Suspension is a potassium-removing resin. It works by drawing potassium into the large intestine and then removing it from the body.

Do NOT use SPS Suspension if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in SPS Suspension


• you have low potassium levels in the blood


• you have not yet had a bowel movement after recent surgery or if you have abnormal bowel function


• you have obstructive bowel disease, constipation, or are at risk of constipation or impaction (eg, a history of impaction, chronic constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, previous bowel surgery, a bowel blockage)


• the patient is a newborn with decreased bowel activity


• you are taking magnesium hydroxide or sorbitol

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using SPS Suspension:

Some medical conditions may interact with SPS Suspension. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have swelling or fluid retention (edema), congestive heart failure, or high blood pressure


• if you have kidney problems, dehydration, low blood volume, or abnormal blood electrolyte (eg, sodium, magnesium, calcium) levels


• if you have a history of constipation, or bowel problems or surgery


• if the patient is a premature newborn


• if you are on a low-salt (sodium) diet or you are taking digoxin

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with SPS Suspension. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Sorbitol because the risk of severe bowel problems (eg, bleeding, inflammation, tearing) may be increased


• Magnesium hydroxide because severe side effects (eg, seizures) may occur


• Aluminum hydroxide because bowel blockage may occur


• Lithium or thyroxine because their effectiveness may be decreased by SPS Suspension

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if SPS Suspension may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use SPS Suspension:

Use SPS Suspension as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• SPS Suspension is usually given at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using SPS Suspension at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use SPS Suspension. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.


• SPS Suspension can be taken orally, as an enema, or through a feeding tube, as directed by your doctor.


• Shake well before each use.


• If you take antacids or laxatives, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to take them with SPS Suspension. Do not take magnesium hydroxide with SPS Suspension.


• Do not heat SPS Suspension. It may not work as well.


• Check with your doctor about what you should do if you miss a dose of SPS Suspension.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use SPS Suspension.

Important safety information:

• Follow the diet program given to you by your health care provider. Avoid eating or drinking anything that contains the sweetener sorbitol.


• Serious and sometimes fatal bowel problems (eg, bleeding, inflammation, tearing) have been reported with the use of SPS Suspension. Most of the patients who developed these problems while taking SPS Suspension were also taking sorbitol. The risk of bowel problems may also be increased if you have low blood volume, kidney problems, or a history of bowel problems or surgery. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience black, tarry, or bloody stools; constipation; stomach pain; swelling of the stomach; or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.


• Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.


• Lab tests, including blood potassium and other blood electrolyte levels, and electrocardiograms (ECGs), may be performed while you use SPS Suspension. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use SPS Suspension with caution in CHILDREN and the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially bowel problems.


• SPS Suspension should not be used by mouth in NEWBORNS; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if SPS Suspension can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using SPS Suspension while you are pregnant. It is not known if SPS Suspension is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use SPS Suspension, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of SPS Suspension:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Appetite loss; nausea; upset stomach; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry, or bloody stools; changes in emotions, mood, or behavior; confusion; constipation; dizziness; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; muscle cramps, pain, spasms, or weakness; seizures; severe or watery diarrhea; stomach pain; swelling of the feet or hands; swelling of the stomach; trouble breathing; trouble thinking or concentrating; vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: SPS side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include confusion; dizziness; irregular heartbeat; irritability; muscle, cramps, pain, weakness, or paralysis; trouble breathing; trouble thinking or concentrating.

Proper storage of SPS Suspension:

Store SPS Suspension at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not freeze. Protect from excessive heat. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep SPS Suspension out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about SPS Suspension, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• SPS Suspension is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about SPS Suspension. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More SPS resources

• SPS Side Effects (in more detail)
• SPS Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• SPS Drug Interactions
• SPS Support Group
• 0 Reviews for SPS - Add your own review/rating

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