Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (soe' dee um) (fos' fate)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Sodium phosphate is used in adults 18 years of age or older to empty the colon (large intestine, bowel) before a colonoscopy (examination of the inside of the colon to check for colon cancer and other abnormalities) so that the doctor will have a clear view of the walls of the colon. Sodium phosphate is in a class of medications called saline laxatives. It works by causing diarrhea so that the stool can be emptied from the colon.


How should this medicine be used?

Sodium phosphate comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken as one dose the night before a colonoscopy is scheduled and one dose the following morning (3 to 5 hours before the procedure). For each dose, your doctor will tell you to take a certain number of tablets with 8 ounces of clear liquid, wait 15 minutes, and then take more tablets with 8 ounces of clear liquid. You will repeat this several more times until you have taken all the tablets that your doctor prescribed for that dose.

It is very important that you drink the full amount of clear liquid with each dose of sodium phosphate, and that you drink plenty of clear liquid at other times before, during, and after your treatment with sodium phosphate. Clear liquids are liquids that can be seen through such as water, flavored water, lemonade without pulp, apple juice, and ginger ale. Do not drink any liquids that are colored purple or red. Tell your doctor if you have trouble drinking clear liquids.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking sodium phosphate,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sodium phosphate, other medications, or any of the ingredients in the tablets. Check the prescription label or ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor if you have already taken sodium phosphate or used an enema containing sodium phosphate within the past 7 days. You should not take sodium phosphate more than once in 7 days.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), antidepressants, disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), erythromycin (E.E.S., Erythrocin), medications for anxiety or seizures, moxifloxacin (Avelox), pimozide (Orap), quinidine (Quinidex, in Nuedexta), sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine) or thioridazine. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • do not take any other laxatives or use any enemas while you are taking this medication.
  • if you are taking any other medications by mouth, talk to your doctor about when you should take them during your treatment with sodium phosphate.Medications that you take 1 hour before you take sodium phosphate may not be absorbed properly.
  • tell your doctor if you follow a low salt diet, if you had been drinking large amounts of alcohol or taking medications for anxiety or seizures and are now gradually decreasing your use of these substances, and if you have had heart surgery. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death), an irregular heartbeat, a heart attack, chest pain, seizures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; a group of conditions in which all or part of the lining of the intestine is swollen, irritated, or has sores) bulimia (an eating disorder), difficulty or swallowing.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Sodium phosphate may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or do not go away:
  • stomach pain
  • bloating
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
  • irregular heartbeat
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • fainting
  • seizures
  • rash
  • hives
  • itching
  • swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, mouth or throat
  • burning or tingling of the lips, tongue, or mouth
  • throat tightness
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing

Sodium phosphate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • i.v. Solution Additives
  • Electrolyte Solutions
  • Enemas
  • Osmotically Acting Laxatives
  • Drugs for Constipation
  • Alimentary Tract and Metabolism
  • Blood and Blood Forming Organs
  • Blood Substitutes and Perfusion Solutions
  • Osmotically acting laxatives
  • Enemas
  • Electrolyte solutions
Prescribed Not Annotated
Weight :Not
Structure Sodium phosphate
Generic Drug Sodium phosphate prescribed Not Annotated
Formula

Annotated

Sodium Phosphate has 0 Brands listed


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