Sodium phenylbutyrate
Generic name: sodium phenylbutyrate [ SOE-dee-um-FEN-il-BUE-ti-rate ]
Brand name: Buphenyl
Dosage forms: oral powder for reconstitution (0.94 g/g); oral tablet (500 mg)
Drug class:Urea cycle disorder agents
What is sodium phenylbutyrate?
Sodium phenylbutyrate is converted to a substance in the body that helps the kidneys eliminate waste substances from the body. These waste substances can produce ammonia, which is toxic if it builds up in your blood.
Sodium phenylbutyrate is used to treat urea cycle disorders in people who lack certain liver enzymes needed to properly eliminate waste substances from the body. sodium phenylbutyrate helps prevent a build-up of ammonia in the blood.
Sodium phenylbutyrate may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Seek emergency medical attention if you notice any signs of ammonia build-up, including mood or behavior changes, memory loss, thinking problems, muscle twitching, back and forth movement of the eyes, vomiting, increasing weakness, slurred speech, seizure (convulsions), and fainting.
Sodium phenylbutyrate will not treat immediate symptoms of an ammonia build-up.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use sodium phenylbutyrate if you are allergic to it. sodium phenylbutyrate will not treat immediate symptoms of an ammonia build-up.
To make sure sodium phenylbutyrate is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
congestive heart failure;
severe kidney disease;
swelling or fluid retention; or
epilepsy or other seizure disorder.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether sodium phenylbutyrate will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
It is not known whether sodium phenylbutyrate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medicine to a child who weighs less than 44 pounds unless your doctor tells you to.
How should I take sodium phenylbutyrate?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Take this medicine with each meal. Divide your total daily dose...
