Lokelma (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed to treat high potassium levels in adults. As with other drugs, Lokelma can cause side effects, such as fluid retention.

Lokelma belongs to a drug class called potassium binders. The drug is not available in a generic version.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects of Lokelma. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Lokelma can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

One of the more common side effects reported by people who took Lokelma in clinical trials was edema (fluid buildup in the body).*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Lokelma. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Lokelma’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Lokelma include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Lokelma and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Lokelma may cause serious side effects. The information below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Lokelma’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported include severe allergic reaction. An allergic reaction is possible after taking Lokelma. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Lokelma, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Lokelma may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do side effects of Lokelma compare with those of Kayexalate?

Similar to Lokelma, Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) was a drug prescribed to treat hyperkalemia (high potassium levels). The brand-name drug Kayexalate is no longer available. However, it’s still available as a generic version: sodium polystyrene sulfonate. The only side effect that Lokelma appears to share with this drug is allergic reaction.

In clinical trials of sodium polystyrene sulfonate, some mild side effects included constipation, appetite loss, and nausea and vomiting. Rarely, the drug can also cause serious side effects, such as reduced blood flow to the colon and severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for more information on how Lokelma compares with other treatments for hyperkalemia, including sodium polystyrene sulfonate.

Does Lokelma cause constipation?

No, it shouldn’t. Constipation wasn’t a reported side effect in Lokelma’s clinical trials.

Other medications prescribed to treat hyperkalemia, such as Kayexalate, can cause constipation. However, this side effect isn’t expected with Lokelma.

Constipation itself can also cause hyperkalemia, the condition Lokelma is prescribed to treat. So it’s possible you may still have constipation when you begin taking the medication.

Before you start Lokelma treatment, it’s important to tell your doctor if you have severe constipation. If you have this condition, the drug may not work to lower your potassium level. In this case, your doctor may choose to treat your constipation before you start taking Lokelma.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Lokelma may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Lokelma.

Fluid buildup in your body

It’s possible to experience edema (fluid buildup in your body) while taking Lokelma. This side effect was reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

Your risk of this side effect increases with higher doses of Lokelma.

Symptoms of edema include:

  • swelling
  • tightness
  • pain
  • puffy skin around your ankles, eyes, or face

What you can do

Contact your doctor if you experience fluid buildup while taking Lokelma. Your doctor may recommend:

Low potassium levels

Lokelma works to treat hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) by lowering your potassium level. For this reason, taking the drug can cause hypokalemia (low potassium levels). However, in Lokelma’s clinical trials, this side effect was rare.

Symptoms of hypokalemia include:

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you develop symptoms of low potassium while taking Lokelma. Your doctor will also monitor your potassium levels with blood tests during your treatment.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, they may suggest decreasing your dosage or stopping treatment with Lokelma.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Lokelma can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Lokelma. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Lokelma. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Bowel obstruction or blockage. Lokelma has not been studied in people with a bowel obstruction or blockage, including severe constipation. It isn’t known whether the drug is safe or effective to take with these conditions. If you have a bowel obstruction or blockage, talk with your doctor. They will likely not prescribe Lokelma to treat your hyperkalemia (high potassium levels). However, they can suggest a different treatment option for your condition.

Heart failure. Heart failure can increase the risk of edema (fluid buildup in the body). Lokelma can also cause edema as a side effect. Having heart failure may increase your risk of this side effect or make it more severe. If your doctor prescribes Lokelma to you, they’ll likely monitor for any symptoms of edema.

Kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease. Certain kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, may increase your risk of edema. Lokelma can also cause edema as a side effect. If your doctor prescribes Lokelma to you, they’ll likely want to closely monitor for any symptoms of edema.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Lokelma or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lokelma. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Alcohol with Lokelma

There are no known interactions between Lokelma and alcohol.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Lokelma, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Lokelma

Lokelma is likely safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The drug is not absorbed by your body after you take a dose. For this reason, it’s unlikely that Lokelma would pass to a fetus or child who’s breastfed.

For more information about taking Lokelma during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor.

Few side effects were reported in Lokelma’s clinical trials, and they were typically mild when they did occur. However, people with certain health conditions may be at higher risk of side effects. And side effects that are typically mild may become severe in people with certain health conditions.

If you’d like to learn more about Lokelma, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Lokelma. For details about other aspects of Lokelma, refer to this article.
  • Cost. If you’d like to learn about Lokelma and cost, see this article.
  • Drug comparison. To learn how Lokelma compares with Veltassa, read this article.
  • A look at your condition. Learn more about hyperkalemia (high potassium levels).

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.