Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate is a prescription medicine. The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Lokelma
- Taken
- Oral
- Label
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, revised February 8, 2024 · full label on DailyMed
- Generic
- FDA-approved (1 company) · details
What it is used for
LOKELMA is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults. Limitation of Use LOKELMA should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) and Clinical Studies (14) ] . LOKELMA is a potassium binder indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults. ( 1 ) Limitation of Use LOKELMA should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action. ( 1 )
Forms and strengths
For oral suspension: 5 g or 10 g of white to grey powder in a foil-lined packet.
- For oral suspension: 5 g per packet ( 3 )
- For oral suspension: 10 g per packet ( 3 )
Who should not take it (contraindications)
None. None. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
- Gastrointestinal Adverse Events in Patients with Motility Disorders. ( 5.1 )
- Edema. ( 5.2 )
- Hypokalemia in patients on hemodialysis. ( 5.3 )
- LOKELMA has radio-opaque properties and, therefore, may give the appearance typical of an imaging agent during abdominal X-ray procedures. ( 5.4 )
5.1 Gastrointestinal Adverse Events in Patients with Motility Disorders Avoid use of LOKELMA in patients with severe constipation, bowel obstruction or impaction, including abnormal post-operative bowel motility disorders, because LOKELMA has not been studied in patients with these conditions and may be ineffective and may worsen gastrointestinal conditions.
5.2 Edema Each 5 g dose of LOKELMA contains approximately 400 mg of sodium, but the extent of absorption by the patient is unknown. In clinical trials of LOKELMA in patients who were not on dialysis, edema was observed and was generally mild to moderate in severity and was more commonly seen in patients treated with 15 g once daily. Monitor for signs of edema, particularly in patients who should restrict their sodium intake or are prone to fluid overload (e.g., heart failure or renal disease). Advise patients to adjust dietary sodium, if appropriate. Increase the dose of diuretics as needed [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] . In a clinical trial of LOKELMA in patients on chronic hemodialysis in which most patients were treated with doses of 5 to 10 g once daily on non-dialysis days, there was no difference in the mean change from baseline in interdialytic weight gain (a measure of fluid retention) between the LOKELMA and placebo groups.
5.3 Hypokalemia in Patients on Hemodialysis Patients on hemodialysis may be prone to acute illness that can increase the risk of hypokalemia on LOKELMA (e.g., illnesses associated with decreased oral intake, diarrhea). Consider adjusting Lokelma dose based on potassium levels in these settings.
5.4 Diagnostic Tests LOKELMA has radio-opaque properties and, therefore, may give the appearance typical of an imaging agent during abdominal X-ray procedures .
Side effects (adverse reactions)
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in the label:
- Edema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Most common adverse reactions with LOKELMA: mild to moderate edema. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AstraZeneca at 1-800-236-9933 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The total exposure to LOKELMA in the safety and efficacy clinical trials of patients not on dialysis with hyperkalemia was 1,760 patients with 652 patients exposed to LOKELMA for at least 6 months and 507 patients exposed for at least one year. The population (n=1,009) in the placebo-controlled trials included patients aged 22 to 96 years, females (n=454), Caucasians (n=859) and Blacks (n=130). Patients had hyperkalemia in association with comorbid diseases such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus. In placebo-controlled trials in which patients who were not on dialysis were treated with once daily doses of LOKELMA for up to 28 days, edema was reported in 4.4% of patients receiving 5 g, 5.9% of patients receiving 10 g and 16.1% of patients receiving 15 g LOKELMA compared to 2.4% of patients receiving placebo. In longer-term uncontrolled trials in which most patients were maintained on doses <15 g once daily, adverse reactions of edema (edema, generalized edema and peripheral edema) were reported in 8% to 11% of patients. In a pooled analysis of clinical studies conducted in countries with a predominantly Asian population, constipation occurred in patients receiving LOKELMA with an estimated incidence of 9% and 5% for the 10 g and 5 g dose respectively. Constipation was resolved with dose adjustment or treatment discontinuation. No cases of constipation were reported in patients receiving placebo. Laboratory Abnormalities In clinical trials in patients who were not on dialysis, 4.1% of LOKELMA-treated patients developed hypokalemia with a serum potassium value less than 3.5 mEq/L, which resolved with dosage reduction or discontinuation of LOKELMA. In a clinical trial of LOKELMA in patients on chronic hemodialysis, 5% of patients developed pre-dialysis hypokalemia (serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L) in both the LOKELMA and placebo groups; 3% and 1% of patients developed a serum potassium < 3.0 mEq/L in the LOKELMA and placebo groups, respectively.
Drug interactions
LOKELMA can transiently increase gastric pH. As a result, LOKELMA can change the absorption of co-administered drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility, potentially leading to altered efficacy or safety of these drugs when taken close to the time LOKELMA is administered. In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . LOKELMA is not expected to impact systemic exposure of drugs that do not exhibit pH-dependent solubility and so spacing is not needed if it has been determined that the concomitant medication does not exhibit pH-dependent solubility. In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA. ( 2.3 , 7 , 12.3 )
Drug Interactions Thirty-six (36) drugs were tested in-vitro to determine potential interactions with LOKELMA. Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). Nine (9) of the 20 drugs that showed an in vitro interaction were subsequently tested in vivo with LOKELMA 10 g in healthy volunteers. Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. These changes are consistent with the hypothesis that LOKELMA, by elevating gastric pH, affects the systemic exposure of co-administered drugs whose solubility is pH-dependent [see Drug Interactions (7) ] . In another drug-drug interaction study in healthy volunteers, co-administration of LOKELMA 15 g decreased the systemic exposures of tacrolimus (Figure 2), likely due to LOKELMA’s action on elevating gastric pH. In the same study, co-administration of LOKELMA and cyclosporine did not show a clinically meaningful interaction. Figure 2: Effects of LOKELMA 10 g or 15 g on the Pharmacokinetic Exposures of Other Orally Administered Medications figure_2
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug.
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration, and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to LOKELMA.
8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
8.5 Geriatric Use Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of LOKELMA, 58% were age 65 and over, while 25% were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients.
How it works
LOKELMA (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) is a non-absorbed zirconium silicate that preferentially captures potassium in exchange for hydrogen and sodium. In vitro , LOKELMA has a high affinity for potassium ions, even in the presence of other cations such as calcium and magnesium. LOKELMA increases fecal potassium excretion through binding of potassium in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. Binding of potassium reduces the concentration of free potassium in the gastrointestinal lumen, thereby lowering serum potassium levels.
Is there a generic Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate?
Yes. The FDA has approved generic Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate from 1 company, and the approval is active. The earliest of these was approved in 2026.
An FDA approval does not always mean the generic is already in pharmacies: patent disputes and settlements can delay a launch for years. Your pharmacist can tell you whether a generic is actually available and covered by your plan.
The FDA rates these generics as therapeutically equivalent to the brand ("A" rating): same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and effect. Pharmacists can usually substitute them unless the prescriber says otherwise.
Companies with an approved generic
Lupin
Brand-name versions
- Lokelma Astrazeneca, approved 2018
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID 90bf8e28-748d-4e4b-a19f-9cf483370eff.