Generic Name: Velphoro (sucroferric-oxyhydroxide)
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I take this medication with water in my mouth as I chew because it’s chalky. It turns your mouth brownish orange but can be rid of by drinking and brushing your teeth. It doesn’t taste horrible, just the dry chalky texture is unpleasant. The only side effect I get is right before my bowel expels it, I get stomach cramps. Then the feces is dark in color. No issues otherwise. It lowers phosphorous great and I only take 1 pill with meals."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I have been taking velphoro for nearly 3 years. It works well for me and I have not experienced the cramping and diarrhea others speak of. The tablets I chew are kind of a grape flavor but I don't chew them for the taste. I take one tablet with my main meal even though they recommend you take one tablet with every meal. Stool discoloration is to be expected but I don't really care as long as I know why. I haven't experienced any particular side effects. Overall I'm very happy with this medication. I've been on dialysis for just over 4 years."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I've been taking Velphoro for about 3 weeks, Sevelamer wasn't working well enough. Started out with black stools and diarrhea. Had to increase my dosage, the diarrhea is starting to subside, but now I get cramping in my lower abdomen before and during bowel movements. Which is unfortunate because I'm going in the daytime as well as in the middle of the night. It's interfering with my sleep. I'm hoping this subsides as I continue taking it as I don't have any other options at this point. As least I've seen that others have experienced bowel discomfort through this site, as Velphoro sites only list black stools and diarrhea. It's very misleading."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I was on Sevlamer/Renvela (same thing) but then my dietician at the Dialysis clinic recommended I try Velphoro because according to my phosphorus levels she didn't think my binders were working for me. Sevlamer gave me HORRIBLE gas and gas pain especially in the beginning but I didn't have the same experience with Velphoro. I got the looser black stools but it just keeps me regular more then anything! I also don't recommend chewing Velphoro!!! I use a pill crusher, pour the powder in my mouth and gulp it down w/ water. It's not in my mouth very long so I don't have to taste it OR you can pour it in Apple Sauce. I found Apple sauce to be the ancient secret to taking a lot of pills at once and also for people who don't like or just can't take huge HORSE pills!! Don't mix the pills into the Apple Sauce though... simply pour it onto one big spoonful and then swallow all at once."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I was on this for over a year. Had good binding, but HATED to have to chew the pill to swallow. The iron left a horrid taste in the mouth. Did a good job keeping my Iron levels up. Moved to Auryxia when I went on Medicare as this was not covered and I loved the switch, no more chewing of my meds."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I was taking this medication for two weeks, and just like everyone else I was experiencing dark stool and stomach cramps; however, I realized that this medication began to constipate me. Not only that, I am not a fan of fruit flavored things, so taking this pill was terrible and I suffered through it the whole time, but when it was time to get monthly labs, I was told that my phosphorus level has increased! This medication did not help my phosphorus levels at all. I stopped taking it immediately, I will not suffer through a pill that I did not want to take to begin with just for it to not work."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "BLACK stool, orange residue in mouth (even after brushing), gave me funky breathe after chewing. I found chewing gum would aleviate the residue and breathe."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "Works well as a binder for phosphate. However due to the co-pay cost of $159.95 I will not be taking it anymore, Tums is cheaper and works for me."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "Black stool has been my only problem. I was using Renvela, which worked better but made me nauseated. I'm up to 2 tablets per meal and I was taking Tums with it but my calcium level jumped."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "I've only been on this med for a week. Discolored stools & diarrhea. I'm hoping this will eventually go away."
For Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure "Dark stool and stomach discomfort"
