Sodium polystyrene sulfonate User Reviews & Ratings

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 31, 2020

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate for Hyperkalemia "I've never heard of 'high potassium' or hyperkalemia, as this condition is called! I felt increasingly bad for several months, having sudden loss of motor skills such as catching myself before falling. My entire body was 'wet' with perspiration and clammy even if I was laying down. I kept pushing myself through it and doing what mothers do until I had zero ability to move anything but my neck after laying down to recoup myself. After an ambulance, a triage of doctors, and blood tests to find out why I was completely coherent but had no motor capabilities, they found my blood potassium at 9.2! I know now I was as near to a heart attack, kidney failure, and/or dialysis as nobody expected, especially me! This potassium medication has literally saved my life, and there isn't a real reason why I need this medication. It’s a matter of life and death that I take it exactly as prescribed, with bloodwork frequently! There isn't an alternative to this type of drug, like it or not."

• Gai...
• February 18, 2018

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate for Hyperkalemia "Had extremely high potassium. I have CKD Stage 4. The doctor had blood drawn and called in this prescription. I was a bit hesitant to take it because of all the side effects. I then decided to take it because I was feeling really bad, my heart was palpitating, nausea, nose bleeding. The morning after the first dose, I felt much better, no trots to the bathroom. The next morning after taking this medication, I felt WONDERFUL!!!! I have not felt this good in over a year. To anyone who has high potassium and needs to get it down, TAKE THIS MED, IT IS A LIFESAVER!"

• kim...
• March 30, 2016

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate for Hyperkalemia "It was either a dose of Kionex oral suspension, or a trip to the ER. The medication was a little chalk-like, but the flavor of raspberry quickly redeemed the quality of the product. Take it as directed by your physician. Important information such as your potassium levels is important, and if it is your first time, it can be scary. Know by research... learn what you can do first... it is a matter of life or death."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2023

For Hyperkalemia "My husband had to go to the ER, and the doctor found that potassium was 5.5. They recommended seeing a nephrologist in 2-3 days. The nephrologist is not available until the first week of April, so we had to call my husband’s doctor, and the doctor did a blood test, and potassium was 6, so he asked him to take SPS immediately for 10 days. After taking SPS for 5 days, the blood test result was 5.2. There was no side effect from taking SPS for 10 days, except my husband farted a lot and had a deadly fart smell like buffalo dung. As soon as he finished his 10-day dose, the fart smell disappeared. The doctor did not warn about this, and I couldn’t find online if anyone had this problem while taking SPS."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2020

For Hyperkalemia "Severe stomach issues began almost immediately after I started sodium polystyrene sulfonate and have been ongoing for about two weeks now. It helps with reducing potassium, but look out, the stomach side effects are well-documented. Wish I had read up on them before taking this. Lokelma seems safer, the literature says. The pharmacies around me did not stock it, so I tried polystyrene rather than wait five days. I regret that now."

• 73g...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 29, 2022

For Hyperkalemia "I was first prescribed liquid. I couldn't leave the house, I had to have access to the restroom at all times. I was having a reaction to the artificial sweetener. It was weeks before I was changed to powder, which doesn't contain any sweeteners. I seem to tolerate the powder without any troubling side effects. I'm hoping for the day someone will come up with a formula for a diet detailing potassium in food to grams of polystyrene. It is such a burden to guess at how much polystyrene is needed to balance out a safe blood level and even scarier to have the doctor guess at the best dosage without any idea of the diet the patient is on. Please, someone help the patients with a diet/polystyrene ratio."

• fre...
• July 6, 2018

For Hyperkalemia "I took sodium polystyrene for a month, and I gained 15 lbs during that time. I called my doctor, who gave me samples of Valtessa. I feel better now and have lost 20 lbs in weight. My doctor could not determine what happened to my body by using polystyrene, and he gave me no answers on why my weight dropped using Valtessa."

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2015

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate for Hyperkalemia "It works to reduce potassium, but it does so by inducing 6-8 hours of severe diarrhea. You can't leave the house, can't sleep, and are lucky if you can leave the bathroom."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2023

For Hyperkalemia "Reduced all of my levels potassium, phosphorus, and creatinine. I think all my levels went down. I have stage 5 kidney disease. It didn't cause pooping, it increased urination for me."

• Nob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2022

For Hyperkalemia "Prescribed this medication. Took it as prescribed once. I’ve had severe diarrhea for the last two days. I can't eat or drink anything without causing an episode."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2019

For Hyperkalemia "On sodium polystyrene for my hyperkalemia, and I feel good!"