Medication Safety Issues
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
Kayexalate [DSC] may be confused with Kaopectate, Kay Ciel
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate may be confused with calcium polystyrene sulfonate
Pediatric patients: High-risk medication:
KIDs List: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate, when used in very low birthweight neonates, is identified on the Key Potentially Inappropriate Drugs in Pediatrics (KIDs) list and should be avoided due to risk of colonic perforation (weak recommendation; low quality of evidence) (PPA [Meyers 2020]).
Administration issues:
Always prescribe either one-time doses or as a specific number of doses (eg, 15 g q6h x 2 doses). Scheduled doses with no dosage limit could be given for days leading to dangerous hypokalemia.
International issues:
Kionex [US] may be confused with Kinex brand name for biperiden [Mexico]
