Potassium Binders

Author(s): Mohammad Tinawi

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate was approved by the FDA in 1958. It was the only potassium binder available on the market until 2015. Patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate are newly approved potassium binders. They are better tolerated and can be used on a chronic basis to mitigate hyperkalemia. They allow patients to continue to use critical medications such as ACE inhibitors even in advanced chronic kidney disease.