Lanthanum (Local) (Monograph)
Brand name: Fosrenol
Drug class: Phosphate-reducing Agents
VA class: GU900
Introduction
Phosphate binder used to reduce the intestinal absorption of phosphates.
Uses for Lanthanum (Local)
Hyperphosphatemia
Reduction of serum phosphorus in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Reductions in serum phosphorus concentrations are similar to those achieved with alternative phosphate binders (e.g., calcium salts, sevelamer).
Risk of hypercalcemia apparently is less than with calcium (e.g., calcium carbonate) salts.
Lanthanum (Local) Dosage and Administration
Administration
Oral Administration
Administer orally in divided doses with or immediately after meals (in order to bind dietary phosphates efficiently).
Chew tablets completely before swallowing; do not swallow intact tablets.
Dosage
Available as lanthanum carbonate; dosage expressed in terms of lanthanum.
Adults
Hyperphosphatemia
ESRD
OralInitially, 750 mg–1.5 g daily.
Adjust dosage at 2- to 3-week intervals until serum phosphorus concentration is acceptable; generally titrated in increments of 750 mg daily in clinical studies.
Dosage of 1.5–3 g daily usually is required to reduce serum phosphorus concentrations to <6 mg/dL; dosages up to 3.75 g daily have been studied.
Monitor serum phosphorus concentrations as needed during titration and regularly thereafter.
Cautions for Lanthanum (Local)
Contraindications
-
No known contraindications.
Warnings/Precautions
General Precautions
GI Disease
Safety and efficacy not established in active peptic ulcer disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or bowel obstruction; use with caution in patients with these disorders.
Radiographic Examinations
Abdominal radiographs performed in patients taking lanthanum may have the typical radiopaque appearance of a radiograph performed using an imaging agent.
Chronic Use
No differences in fracture or mortality rates were observed between patients receiving lanthanum and those receiving alternative therapy for up to 3 years in clinical studies; however, data are insufficient to conclude lanthanum has no effect on fracture or mortality rates beyond 3 years of use.
Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Category C.
Lactation
Not known whether lanthanum is distributed into milk. Caution if used in nursing women.
Pediatric Use
Safety and efficacy not established in children <18 years of age.
Deposited in developing bone (including the growth plate) of animals in long-term studies; although growth abnormalities in animals were not observed, the consequences of deposition in developing bone of pediatric patients are unknown.
Geriatric Use
No substantial differences in safety and efficacy relative to younger adults.
Common Adverse Effects
Nausea, vomiting, dialysis graft occlusion, abdominal pain.
Drug Interactions
Not a substrate for CYP isoenzymes. Does not inhibit CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2C9/10, 2C19, 2D6, or 3A4/5.
Drugs Affecting or Metabolized by Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes
Pharmacokinetic interaction unlikely.
Drugs Known to Interact with Antacids
Possible formation of insoluble complexes; do not administer such drugs within 2 hours of lanthanum dose.
Specific Drugs
Drug |
Interaction |
---|---|
Citrate salts |
Lanthanum absorption not altered |
Digoxin |
No formation of insoluble complexes in vitro; digoxin absorption not altered |
Enalapril |
No formation of insoluble complexes in vitro |
Furosemide |
No formation of insoluble complexes in vitro |
Metoprolol |
No formation of insoluble complexes in vitro; metoprolol absorption not altered |
Phenytoin |
No formation of insoluble complexes in vitro |
Warfarin |
No formation of insoluble complexes in vitro; warfarin absorption not altered |
Lanthanum (Local) Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Information regarding the mass balance of lanthanum in humans after oral administration is not available.
Bioavailability
Minimally absorbed from the GI tract; bioavailability <0.002%.
Food
Minimal effect on systemic lanthanum concentrations.
Plasma Concentrations
Mean plasma concentrations of the drug remain low (≤1.1 ng/mL) for up to 2 years of use. Plasma concentrations increase minimally with increasing dosages in the recommended range.
Distribution
Extent
Distributed into bone; bone lanthanum concentrations increase over time (e.g., 4.5 years of administration).
Does not appear to cross the blood-brain barrier in animals.
Plasma Protein Binding
>99%.
Elimination
Metabolism
Not metabolized.
Elimination Route
In animals, excreted principally in the feces (94–99%), mainly as unabsorbed drug; systemically absorbed lanthanum is eliminated in the feces, principally via biliary excretion.
Minimally excreted in urine in healthy individuals (renal clearance of IV lanthanum chloride [not commercially available in the US] is <2% of total plasma clearance).
Half-life
Plasma: 53 hours.
Bone: 2–3.6 years.
Special Populations
In lanthanum-treated patients with ESRD, no quantifiable amounts were present in the dialysate.
Stability
Storage
Oral
Chewable Tablets
25°C (may be exposed to 15–30°C). Protect from moisture.
Actions
-
Dissociates in the acidic environment of the upper GI tract to release trivalent lanthanum ions, which bind dietary phosphate released during digestion, thereby forming highly insoluble lanthanum phosphate complexes that are excreted fecally.
-
Lanthanum ions have a high affinity for phosphate; the drug binds about 97% of available phosphates in vitro at pH 3–5 (corresponding to that of gastric fluid) when in twofold molar excess to phosphates.
-
Reduces phosphate absorption, serum phosphorus concentrations, and serum calcium times phosphorus product (Ca × P).
Advice to Patients
-
Importance of adhering to instructions about diet.
-
Importance of taking lanthanum with or immediately after meals.
-
Importance of chewing tablets completely before swallowing, and not swallowing intact tablets.
-
Importance of women informing their clinician if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.
-
Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs, as well as any concomitant illnesses.
-
Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)
Additional Information
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided in the accompanying monograph was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. Readers are advised that decisions regarding use of drugs are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and that the information contained in the monograph is provided for informational purposes only. The manufacturer’s labeling should be consulted for more detailed information. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information contained in the monograph is not a substitute for medical care.
Preparations
Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.
Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.
Routes |
Dosage Forms |
Strengths |
Brand Names |
Manufacturer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oral |
Tablets, chewable |
250 mg (of lanthanum) |
Fosrenol |
Shire |
500 mg (of lanthanum) |
Fosrenol |
Shire |
||
750 mg (of lanthanum) |
Fosrenol |
Shire |
||
1 g (of lanthanum) |
Fosrenol |
Shire |
AHFS DI Essentials™. © Copyright 2025, Selected Revisions April 10, 2024. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.
Reload page with references included
More about lanthanum carbonate
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (8)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: phosphate binders
- Breastfeeding
- En español