A Service of the National Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
healthfinder® home page
        Help | Advanced Search
 News Library Just For You Health Care Organizations en Español
Health & Human Services Home Page

Home > News


Help for Dialysis Patients

  • E-mail this article
  • Subscribe to news
  • FRIDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDayNews) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a chewable non-calcium drug that can help kidney patients on dialysis manage their phosphorus levels.

    Even while on a low-phosphorus diet, too much of the chemical tends to build up in the blood of some kidney patients. This can lead to bone pain, skeletal deformities and broken bones, and raise a person's risk of heart disease, according to Shire Pharmaceuticals, maker of the new drug, Fosrenol.

    The chewable tablet can be taken without water, a plus for many high-phosphorus kidney patients who must otherwise restrict fluid intake, the company said in a statement.

    Of the roughly 20 million Americans who have some form of kidney disease, more than 512,000 have end-stage renal disease and thus may be eligible for the drug, the company said.

    To learn more about Fosrenol, visit the company's Web site.

    Copyright © 2004 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

    HealthDayNews articles are derived from various sources and do not reflect federal policy. healthfinder® does not endorse opinions, products, or services that may appear in news stories. For more information on health topics in the news, visit the healthfinder® health library.
    About Us  Accessibility  Disclaimer  Freedom of Information Act  Privacy  Contact Us
    Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services