Everything You Need to Know About Velphoro

What Is Velphoro? What Is Velphoro Used For?

Velphoro is a prescription medication used to control high phosphorus levels in the blood.

That condition alone, by itself, just the high blood phosphorus levels, is called “hyperphosphatemia.”

Hyperphosphatemia is a condition that can happen in people who have advanced kidney disease.

If a person is on dialysis, the risk of hyperphosphatemia is even greater.

Under normal conditions, your kidneys help you avoid hyperphosphatemia by removing excess phosphorus from your body.

But when your kidney function declines, phosphorus can build up in the bloodstream.

Over time, high phosphorus levels can lead to:

This is why managing phosphorus is such an important part of kidney care.

Velophoro can help manage your blood phosphorus levels. It’s a type of medication called a “phosphate binder.” It doesn’t work by interfering with your kidneys at all, which can be nice if your kidneys are already managing a lot.

Instead, Velphoro acts by helping your digestive system.

Here’s Exactly How Velphoro Works

Velphoro contains an iron-based compound (sucroferric oxyhydroxide) that binds to phosphorus in the food you eat.

Here’s how it works in simple terms:

Thanks to this sequence of events, Velphoro helps prevent phosphorus from being absorbed into your bloodstream in the first place.

That’s why timing matters.

Taking Velphoro with your meals helps ensure it’s present exactly when phosphorus from food is being processed.

It’s also why Velphoro is typically used alongside:

Velphoro Side Effects: What to Expect

As we often say, with great power – medicinally, and otherwise – comes the great potential for possible side effects.

As you start to take Velphoro, you should be on the lookout for Velphoro side effects.

Most of the side effects you may encounter are related to the way the drug works – e.g., they happen in the digestive system. Put another way: Because Velphoro binds phosphorus in the gut, its effects tend to stay localized there.

For many patients, side effects are mild and manageable, especially after the first few weeks of use.

The most commonly reported side effects include:

Of course, your mileage may vary.

One person’s mild digestive discomfort is a complete nonstarter for other people, and that’s okay.

If you find that taking Velphoro results in side effects that are untenable for you, talk to your doctor. You may be able to find other options to manage your blood phosphorus levels.

Know this, though:

These effects often improve as your body adjusts to the medication.

The change in stool color can look concerning at first, but it’s expected and not usually a sign of bleeding.

Less commonly, after starting to take Velphoro, some patients may experience:

If these less common side effects are persistent or disruptive to your life, health, and happiness, your healthcare provider may adjust your dose or consider an alternative phosphate binder.

Important Notes About Iron and Velphoro

Because Velphoro is an iron-based phosphate binder, patients sometimes worry about iron levels or iron overload.

Why?

Remember, the way Velphoro works relies on a specific compound, one that includes iron, that sticks to phosphorus in the food you eat. That means that, in order to eliminate phosphorus, you’re taking in iron.

And for some people, that can be an issue.

In practice, the amount of iron absorbed from Velphoro is generally low, since most of it stays in the digestive tract and is eliminated.

However, your care team may still monitor iron levels as part of routine blood work, especially if you are receiving other iron treatments as part of dialysis care.

While you’re getting that iron level monitoring done, it’ll be especially important to tell your healthcare provider if you:

Monitoring is standard in kidney care, so all of this will typically be built into your existing treatment plan.

Velphoro Generic: Is There a Lower-Cost Option?

Let’s say you’ve done your research.

You’ve read about what Velphoro does. You’ve talked to your doctor and gotten a prescription. You understand the side effects, and you’re committed to monitoring your iron levels.

… Can you afford Velphoro?

In the United States, a 90-tablet supply of Velphoro can cost as much as $1,500.00. For most people, that’s not remotely sustainable, especially for a chronic healthcare need.

(Fortunately, here, through our international and Canadian medication pharmacy, you can buy that same 90-tablet supply of brand Velphoro for $730.00, or savings of up to 51% when compared to typical American medication prices.)

In many cases, people are able to opt for the much lower-priced generic alternative we offer if they want to save extra money on their prescriptions.

That may not be the case with Velphoro.

Is there a Velphoro generic?

You may be able to find a generic option through select online and international Canadian pharmacies. While patients are usually prescribed the brand-name – and more expensive – version, they can take advantage of a lower cost generic.

And there are Velphoro alternatives to consider.

There are several other phosphate binders, some of which are available in generic forms. You and your doctor can assess these other options based on:

Because phosphate binders differ in how they work, how they’re tolerated, and how often they’re taken, switching between them should always be guided by a healthcare provider.

Here’s Why Patients Sometimes Switch Phosphate Binders

Even when a medication like Velphoro is effective, sometimes, it makes sense to explore alternatives anyway.

It’s always good to know what’s out there. And, of course, you may find that you experience side effects over time.

Patients switch phosphate binders for many varied reasons.

These can include:

Whatever your reason, know that it’s normal for treatment plans to evolve as your needs change.

Velphoro Alternatives: Other Phosphate Binders to Consider

Let’s say that you’ve decided Velphoro isn’t the right medication for you.

(Or perhaps you’re just very interested in learning more about your options at this time.)

If Velphoro isn’t the right fit, whether due to side effects, cost, or personal preference, there are several other phosphate binders that you might want to consider.

Each works slightly differently and comes with its own set of advantages and tradeoffs.

Here are the most commonly used Velphoro alternatives:

Sevelamer Carbonate (and Sevelamer Hydrochloride)

Sevelamer is a non-calcium, non-metal-based phosphate binder that works by binding phosphorus in the digestive tract.

This medication …

Sevelamer carbonate can require you to take multiple tablets per meal, and can also cause gastrointestinal side effects like bloating or constipation.

Calcium Acetate

Calcium acetate is one of the older and more widely available phosphate binders.

It’s generally more affordable than alternatives like Velphoro.

It’s available in generic form.

And it’s pretty effective at lowering phosphorus.

That said, using calcium acetate does add calcium to the body, which may not be the absolute best thing for all patients.

Lanthanum Carbonate

Lanthanum carbonate is another non-calcium phosphate binder that works by binding phosphorus in the gut.

It’s effective at phosphate control, and it comes with a lower risk of calcium-related complications. On the other hand, it needs to be chewed very thoroughly before swallowing, and it can cause some gastrointestinal discomfort in some patients.

Ferric Citrate

Ferric citrate is another iron-based phosphate binder.

It’s kind of similar to Velphoro, but comes with a few distinct differences.

Ferric citrate can be used to manage phosphorus levels and even iron levels, for patients who need to focus on that; but if you already have normal or high levels of iron, ferric citrate may be a complicated medication to add to your regimen.

How These Alternatives Compare to Velphoro

If you’re seeing how these options stack up so you can figure out which medication will be most effective for you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

There’s a lot out there!

First of all, remember that you’re not doing this alone.

Your healthcare provider will be able to help you decide which med is your best choice based on your unique health history and goals.

They’ll also be able to help you find the right balance (again, for you specifically) between:

The right choice will probably depend on your lab values, overall treatment plan, and how your body responds to the drug at first.

If you’re able to do so, keeping a symptom log from the first day you start taking the medication can help you see in aggregate what the medication is doing to your body.

“Felt a little nauseated last week” is helpful; timed and dated documentation of seven straight days of feeling nauseated in the morning is even more so!

Accessing Velphoro and Managing Cost

For many patients, one of the biggest practical concerns with Velphoro is cost.

Again, the average cost for a month of Velphoro can skyrocket as high as $1,500.00.

Because there is no widely available Velphoro generic in some countries, pricing can vary depending on:

Some patients may have relatively low copays, while others face higher out-of-pocket costs, particularly if the medication is placed in a higher insurance tier or requires prior authorization.

If cost becomes a barrier, it’s worth discussing options with your healthcare provider. In some cases, switching to another phosphate binder, may help reduce expenses while still maintaining phosphorus control.

Or, of course, you can consider buying your medications from an online and international Canadian pharmacy website to save big to get Velphoro brand or generic (while enjoying the convenience of ordering medications directly to your front door!).

Remember that here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy a one-month supply of brand Velphoro for about $730.00 and the generic for far less.

Looking for further support? Head to our Velphoro page to learn more about this medication, our prescription medications page to see what we have to offer, or contact us to ask our pharmacists any questions you may have about your prescriptions.

The entire team here at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to supporting you!