Polystyrene Sulfonate/Sorbitol Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

Both of the medicines can irritate your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

What might happen:

Taking these medicines together may damage your GI tract. Fatalities have been reported.

What you should do about this interaction:

Make sure your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Let your doctor know right away if you have any abdominal pain, black or bloody stools, dizziness, or "coffee ground" vomit.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
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  • 2.Rashid A, Hamilton SR. Necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract in uremic patients as a result of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) in sorbitol: an underrecognized condition. Am J Surg Pathol 1997 Jan; 21(1):60-9.
  • 3.Abraham SC, Bhagavan BS, Lee LA, Rashid A, Wu TT. Upper gastrointestinal tract injury in patients receiving kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) in sorbitol: clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic findings. Am J Surg Pathol 2001 May;25(5):637-44.
  • 4.Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) US prescribing information. Concordia Pharmaceuticals Inc. July 31, 2017.
  • 5.Milley JR, Jung AL. Hematochezia associated with the use of hypertonic sodium polystyrene sulfonate enemas in premature infants. J Perinatol 1995 Mar-Apr;15(2):139-42.
  • 6.Lillemoe KD, Romolo JL, Hamilton SR, Pennington LR, Burdick JF, Williams GM. Intestinal necrosis due to sodium polystyrene (Kayexalate) in sorbitol enemas: clinical and experimental support for the hypothesis. Surgery 1987 Mar;101(3):267-72.
  • 7.Bennett LN, Myers TF, Lambert GH. Cecal perforation associated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate-sorbitol enemas in a 650 gram infant with hyperkalemia. Am J Perinatol 1996 Apr;13(3):167-70.
  • 8.Scott TR, Graham SM, Schweitzer EJ, Bartlett ST. Colonic necrosis following sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)-sorbitol enema in a renal transplant patient. Report of a case and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum 1993 Jun;36(6):607-9.
  • 9.Wootton FT, Rhodes DF, Lee WM, Fitts CT. Colonic necrosis with Kayexalate-sorbitol enemas after renal transplantation. Ann Intern Med 1989 Dec 1;111(11):947-9.
  • 10.Rogers FB, Li SC. Acute colonic necrosis associated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) enemas in a critically ill patient: case report and review of the literature. J Trauma 2001 Aug;51(2):395-7.
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  • 13.Dardik A, Moesinger RC, Efron G, Barbul A, Harrison MG. Acute abdomen with colonic necrosis induced by Kayexalate-sorbitol. South Med J 2000 May;93(5):511-3.
  • 14.Roy-Chaudhury P, Meisels IS, Freedman S, Steinman TI, Steer M. Combined gastric and ileocecal toxicity (serpiginous ulcers) after oral kayexalate in sorbital therapy. Am J Kidney Dis 1997 Jul;30(1):120-2.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.