For patients taking the tablet form of this medicine:

• Do not swallow the tablet. Before taking, dissolve the tablet in ¾ to 1 glass (6 to 8 ounces) of water. Let the tablet soak in water for 2 to 5 minutes and then stir until completely dissolved.

For patients using the capsule form of this medicine:

• Do not swallow the capsule. Before taking, mix the contents of 1 capsule in one-third glass (about 2 ounces) of water or juice or the contents of 2 capsules in two-thirds glass (about 5 ounces) of water and stir well until dissolved.

For patients using the powder form of this medicine:

• Add the entire contents of 1 bottle (2¼ ounces) to enough warm water to make 1 gallon of solution or the contents of one packet to enough warm water to make 1/3 of a glass (about 2.5 ounces) of solution. Shake the container for 2 or 3 minutes or until all the powder is dissolved.
• Do not dilute solution further.
• This solution may be chilled to improve the flavor; do not allow it to freeze.
• Discard unused solution after 60 days.

Take this medicine immediately after meals or with food to lessen possible stomach upset or laxative action.

To help prevent kidney stones, drink at least a full glass (8 ounces) of water every hour during waking hours, unless otherwise directed by your health care professional.

Take this medicine only as directed. Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than recommended on the label, unless otherwise directed by your health care professional.

Dosing

The dose of these single or combination medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your health care professional's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your health care professional tells you to do so.

The number of teaspoonfuls or ounces of prepared solution that you drink depends on the equivalent amount of phosphorus contained in the product. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the single or combination medicine .

For potassium phosphates
• For tablets for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body or to make the urine more acid or to prevent the formation of kidney stones in the urinary tract:
    • Adults and teenagers The equivalent of 228 milligrams (mg) of phosphorus (2 tablets) dissolved in six to eight ounces of water four times a day, with meals and at bedtime.
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 228 mg of phosphorus (2 tablets) dissolved in six to eight ounces of water four times a day, with meals and at bedtime.
    • Children up to 4 years of age The dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For capsules for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 250 mg of phosphorus (contents of 1 capsule) dissolved in two and one-half ounces of water or juice four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
    • Children up to 4 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For powder for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 250 mg of phosphorus dissolved in two and one-half ounces of water four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
    • Children up to 4 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For potassium and sodium phosphates
• For tablets for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body or to make the urine more acid or to prevent the formation of kidney stones in the urinary tract:
    • Adults and teenagers The equivalent of 250 milligrams (mg) of phosphorus dissolved in eight ounces of water four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 250 mg of phosphorus dissolved in eight ounces of water four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
    • Children up to 4 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For capsules for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 250 mg of phosphorus (the contents of 1 capsule) dissolved in two and one-half ounces of water or juice four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
    • Children up to 4 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For powder for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 250 mg of phosphorus dissolved in two and one-half ounces of water four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
    • Children up to 4 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For tablets for oral solution dosage form:
  • To replace phosphorus lost by the body:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children over 4 years of age The equivalent of 250 mg of phosphorus (1 tablet) dissolved in eight ounces of water four times a day.
    • Children up to 4 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is within 1 or 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule, tablet, or powder form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your health care professional will make. For phosphates the following should be considered:

Allergies Tell your health care professional if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to potassium, sodium, or phosphates. Also, tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy It is especially important that you are receiving enough vitamins and minerals when you become pregnant and that you continue to receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals throughout your pregnancy. The healthy growth and development of the fetus depend on a steady supply of nutrients from the mother. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement in pregnancy may be harmful to the mother and/or fetus and should be avoided.

Breast-feeding It is especially important that you receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals so that your baby will also get the vitamins and minerals needed to grow properly. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement while breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or baby and should be avoided.

Children Problems in children have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts. However, use of enemas that contain phosphates in children has resulted in high blood levels of phosphorus.

Older adults Problems in older adults have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your health care professional may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking phosphates, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Amiloride (e.g., Midamor) or
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (benazepril [e.g., Lotensin], captopril [e.g., Capoten], enalapril [e.g., Vasotec], fosinopril [e.g., Monopril], lisinopril [e.g., Zestril, Prinivil], quinapril [e.g., Accupril], ramipril [e.g., Altace]) or
• Cyclosporine or
• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine) or
• Heparin (e.g., Panheprin), with long-term use, or
• Medicine for inflammation or pain (except narcotics) or
• Other potassium-containing medicine or
• Salt substitutes, low-salt foods, or milk or
• Spironolactone (e.g., Aldactone) or
• Triamterene (e.g., Dyrenium) Use with potassium-containing phosphates may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood), possibly leading to serious side effects

• Antacids Use with phosphates may prevent the phosphate from working properly

• Calcium-containing medicine, including antacids and calcium supplements Use with phosphates may prevent the phosphate from working properly; calcium deposits may form in tissues

• Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicine) Use with sodium-containing phosphates may increase the risk of swelling

• Phosphate-containing medications, other, including phosphate enemas Use with sodium or potassium phosphates may cause high blood levels of phosphorus which may increase the chance of side effects

• Sodium-containing medicines (other) Use with sodium phosphates may cause your body to retain (keep) water

• Burns, severe or
• Heart disease or
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or
• Rickets or
• Softening of bones or
• Underactive parathyroid glands Sodium- or potassium-containing phosphates may make these conditions worse

• Dehydration or
• Underactive adrenal glands Potassium-containing phosphates may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood)

• Edema (swelling in feet or lower legs or fluid in lungs) or
• High blood pressure or
• Liver disease or
• Toxemia of pregnancy Sodium-containing phosphates may make these conditions worse

• High blood levels of phosphate (hyperphosphatemia) Use of phosphates may make this condition worse

• Infected kidney stones Phosphates may make this condition worse

• Kidney disease Sodium-containing phosphates may make this condition worse; potassium-containing phosphates may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood)

• Myotonia congenita Potassium-containing phosphates may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood), and make this condition worse