Polystyrene sulfonate

Polystyrene sulfonate
Clinical data
Trade names	Sodium salt: Kayexalate, Kionex, Resonium A; Calcium salt: Calcium Resonium, Kalitake, Sorbisterit, Resikali; Potassium and sodium salt: Tolevamer
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682108
Routes of; administration	By mouth, retention enema
ATC code	V03AE01 (WHO) ;
Legal status
Legal status	In general: ℞ (Prescription only);
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	None
Metabolism	None
Excretion	Faeces (100%)
Identifiers
	IUPAC name Poly(4-vinylbenzenesulfonic acid);
CAS Number	9002-23-7 ;
PubChem CID	75905;
DrugBank	DB01344 ;
ChemSpider	None;
UNII	70KO0R01RY;
KEGG	DG01160 ;
Chemical and physical data
Formula	[C8H7SO3−] n
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Polystyrene sulfonates are a group of medications used to treat high blood potassium. Therapeutic effects generally appear hours to days after commencement of therapy. Common side effects include loss of appetite, gastrointestinal upset, constipation, and low blood calcium. Polystyrene sulfonates are given by mouth with a meal, or rectally by retention enema. Oral formulations often also contain the laxative sorbitol in order to lessen the risk of constipation which can be severe.

Polystyrene sulfonates are derived from polystyrene by the addition of sulfonate functional groups. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate was approved for medical use in the United States in 1958. A polystyrene sulfonate was developed in the 2000s to treat Clostridioides difficile associated diarrhea under the name Tolevamer, but it was never marketed.

Polystyrene sulfonates are also used in technical applications to remove potassium, calcium, and sodium from solutions.