Prescription medicine
Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate Brand names: Lokelma
Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 2018. No generic is listed; pharmacies paid $28.33 per packet (Lokelma 10 gram powder packet) in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- No generic listed
Check it at the source: the sodium zirconium cyclosilicate FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 8, 2024, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP); the NDA 207078 record on Drugs@FDA; every sodium zirconium cyclosilicate label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of February 8, 2024; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageLOKELMA is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults.
Forms and strengths
- 5 g/5g
- 10 g/10g
Powder for suspension.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 18, 2018 Lokelma, Astrazeneca; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 1 first August 7, 2026; 1 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 2 of which 0 under generic applications, 2 under brand applications, repackagers included
- Last listed patent
- October 14, 2035 Lokelma for oral suspension; not a generic launch date
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $28.33 per packet Lokelma 10 gram powder packet
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- No recall recorded
- FAERS reports
- 3,695 through July 30, 2026
What is sodium zirconium cyclosilicate used for?
From the label: indications and usageLOKELMA is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults. Limitation of Use LOKELMA should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) and Clinical Studies (14) ]. LOKELMA is a potassium binder indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults. ( 1 ) Limitation of Use LOKELMA should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action.
Source: FDA drug label (LOKELMA), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, effective February 8, 2024 (SPL set 90bf8e28-748d-4e4b-a19f-9cf483370eff), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma)?
The FDA approved the first generic sodium zirconium cyclosilicate on August 7, 2026. 1 generic application is approved; 1 of it carries a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale. Drugs@FDA also holds 1 tentative approval: the FDA found the generic approvable, but patents or exclusivity keep it from final approval for now.
The Orange Book lists 14 patents for Lokelma for oral suspension: the compound patent runs to October 14, 2035. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.
- 2018 earliest approval on file
- 2026 first generic approved
- 2035 last listed patent
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $28.33 per packet (Lokelma 10 gram powder packet), up 3% from $27.54 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Lokelma 10 gram powder packet (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lokelma 10 gram powder packet | Brand | $28.33 per packet | n/a | +3% |
| Lokelma 5 gram powder packet | Brand | $28.36 per packet | n/a | +3% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What does the sodium zirconium cyclosilicate label say about other medicines?
The sodium zirconium cyclosilicate label names 21 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Allopurinol | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Apixaban | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Aspirin | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Atorvastatin | drug interactions | However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. |
| Captopril | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Cyclosporine | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Dabigatran | drug interactions | However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. |
| Digoxin | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Furosemide | drug interactions | However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. |
| Glipizide | drug interactions | Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. |
| Levothyroxine | drug interactions | Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. |
| Lisinopril | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Losartan | drug interactions | Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. |
| Metformin | drug interactions | Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
Every other medicine the sodium zirconium cyclosilicate label names
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Phenytoin | drug interactions | … cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Prednisone | drug interactions | … digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Propranolol | drug interactions | … estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Quinapril | drug interactions | … lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Spironolactone | drug interactions | … magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
| Tacrolimus | drug interactions | In another drug-drug interaction study in healthy volunteers, co-administration of LOKELMA 15 g decreased the systemic exposures of tacrolimus (Figure 2), likely due to LOKELMA’s action on elevating … |
| Ticagrelor | drug interactions | … phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). |
Check sodium zirconium cyclosilicate against other medicines
Source: FDA drug label (LOKELMA), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, effective February 8, 2024 (SPL set 90bf8e28-748d-4e4b-a19f-9cf483370eff), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for sodium zirconium cyclosilicate?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 3,695 reports that list sodium zirconium cyclosilicate among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 1,340 are coded as a death and 979 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What next?
- Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other