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how-it-works 2022-01-13T04:09:55+00:00

How It Works

Renacidin (Citric Acid, Glucono Delta-Lactone, and Magnesium Carbonate) is a sterile, non-pyrogenic irrigation solution for use within the lower urinary tract for the dissolution of bladder calculi of the struvite or apatite variety, and prevention of encrustations of urethral catheters and cystostomy tubes. Apatite calculi consist of calcium phosphate formations, while struvite formations are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Renacidin is administered by way of by local intermittent irrigation through a urethral catheter or cystostomy tube, to prevent and dissolve encrustations.

In the case of apatite encrustations, Renacidin works by exchanging the magnesium in Renacidin for the calcium contained in the apatite formation. The magnesium salt that is formed is soluble in Renacidin irrigation solution, resulting in the dissolution of the calcium encrustation.

Struvite formations, on the other hand, are solubilized by Renacidin due to Renacidin’s acidic (low) pH, resulting in a solvent action that dissolves these types of formations.

Renacidin is not effective for the dissolution of calcium oxalate, uric acid or cysteine formations.

Company Information

RENACIDIN® IRRIGATION SOLUTION is a product of the Guardian Laboratories Division of United-Guardian, Inc., a Delaware corporation whose stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol “UG”. The company manufactures and markets two pharmaceutical products, as well as medical lubricants, cosmetic ingredients, personal care products, health care products, and specialty industrial products. It also conducts research and product development, primarily related to the development of new and unique cosmetic and personal care products.

The company was founded and incorporated in New York in 1942 by Dr. Alfred R. Globus, United’s Chairman and Director of Research until his death in 2009. The Company has a broad range of products, the two largest of which are Renacidin Irrigation Solution and the company’s LUBRAJEL® line of cosmetic ingredients and medical lubricants.

The Company focuses on the development of products that have unique properties, and many times use proprietary manufacturing technology. The Company’s pharmaceutical products are marketed by direct advertising and trade exhibitions, with additional product information made available to the public and physicians on the company’s Renacidin web site. The pharmaceutical products are sold to hospitals and pharmacies primarily through full-line drug wholesalers, which in turn supply the products to pharmacies, hospitals, physicians, long-term care facilities, and other health care providers. The Company also sells a small quantity of pharmaceutical products directly to hospitals and pharmacies.

The Company’s personal care products, including its cosmetic ingredients, are marketed through the Company’s worldwide network of marketing partners and distributors, and are currently used by many of the global manufacturers of cosmetic and personal care products. The Company’s non-pharmaceutical medical products and its specialty industrial products are sold directly to the marketers of finished products or their contract manufacturers.

Over the years the company has been issued over 32 patents. The company has also received ISO 9001:2015 registration from Underwriters Laboratories, indicating that its documented procedures and overall operations have attained the very high level of quality needed to receive this certification.

Additional information on company can be found on its corporate web site at U-G.COM.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Who should not take RENACIDIN?

  • You should check with your doctor before taking Renacidin to make sure there is no urinary tract extravasation (leakage).
  • Renacidin Irrigation should be used with caution in patients taking medications containing magnesium.
  • It is not known whether Renacidin can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Renacidin should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Renacidin.

Warnings about the use of RENACIDIN:

  • Renacidin use should be stopped immediately if you develop fever, signs and symptoms consistent with urinary tract infection, persistent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, back, or sides, or if blood tests show elevated serum creatinine levels.
  • The contents of individual Renacidin containers should not be combined for use as continuous irrigation of the urinary tract because of complications that may arise from inadequate aseptic technique or inadequate terminal sterilization. Complications may include sepsis (a life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death), or hypermagnesemia (excess magnesium in the blood). In addition, there could be potential injury to product handlers (e.g., irritation to exposed, unprotected areas of the skin).
  • DO NOT use Renacidin for continuous irrigation of the upper urinary tract (kidneys). Serious adverse reactions (including sepsis and hypermagnesemia (see above) have been reported to occur when Renacidin was used for continuous irrigation of the upper urinary tract.

Before using RENACIDIN:

Before using RENACIDIN tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking. In addition:

  • Before starting RENACIDIN, patients with an indwelling urethral catheter or a cystostomy tube should confirm that they don’t have undiagnosed vesicoureteral reflux (a condition in which urine flows backward from the bladder into the ureters and/or kidneys). If reflux is found, you should discuss the situation with your physician to determine whether the potential benefits of the use of RENACIDIN outweigh the risks. If it is decided to begin using RENACIDIN then all recommended safety monitoring precautions for someone with vesicoureteral reflux should be strictly implemented.
  • You should be aware that mutagenicity studies (studies to determine whether a product is capable of causing genetic mutation), animal reproduction studies, and long-term studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of Renacidin, have not been conducted.
  • Nursing mothers should be aware that magnesium is known to be excreted (expelled by the body as waste) into human milk. It is not known whether Renacidin is excreted in human milk, but because many drugs are, caution should be exercised when Renacidin is administered to a woman who is nursing.

Precautions to take while using RENACIDIN:

  • Make sure that the flow through the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube remains unobstructed by flushing the catheter with saline and repositioning of the catheter. The flow should be monitored frequently by a nurse or other person with sufficient skills to be able to detect any problems with the flow through the catheter. At the first sign of catheter obstruction, Renacidin should be discontinued.
  • You should be monitored throughout the course of therapy with Renacidin. Blood tests to determine the levels of serum creatinine, phosphate and magnesium should be performed every several days. Use of RENACIDIN should be discontinued if there is elevated serum creatinine concentration.
  • Urine specimens should be collected for culture and antibacterial sensitivity approximately every three days and at the first sign of fever. Therapy with Renacidin should be stopped if any culture exhibits growth and appropriate antibacterial therapy should be initiated. Therapy with Renacidin may be started again after a course of antibacterial therapy upon demonstration of sterile urine.
  • Renacidin Irrigation should be used with caution in patients taking medications containing magnesium, since it may contribute to elevated levels of magnesium in the blood of certain patients, such as those with vesicoureteral reflux (see above).

How is RENACIDIN supplied?

Renacidin is available as a sterile solution in 30 mL single-use plastic bottles. It is sold in boxes of 30 bottles each. It does not require refrigeration, and should be stored at room temperature; 59° to 86°F (15° to 30°C).

How do I use RENACIDIN?

RENACIDIN should be used exactly as directed by your doctor. Prior to using RENACIDIN, the solution should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration. If either is observed, the product should not be used, and you should notify your doctor.

To use RENACIDIN, remove the plastic tab connected to the conical tip of the Renacidin container by twisting the plastic tab (please see detailed instructions in the product insert), and then connect the conical tip of the Renacidin container to the end of the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube. Squeeze the Renacidin container to expel the entire contents into the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube.

  • Specific instructions for using RENACIDIN for the dissolution of calcifications in the bladder:
    1. Instill one 30 mL container of Renacidin into the bladder through the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube.
    2. Clamp the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube for 30 to 60 minutes.
    3. Release the clamp and drain the bladder.
    4. Repeat the procedure 4 to 6 times a day or as directed by your doctor. Monitor for dissolution of the calcifications.
  • Specific instructions for the prevention of calcifications or encrustations in urethral catheters and cystostomy tubes:
    1. Instill one 30 mL container of Renacidin into the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube.
    2. Clamp the urethral catheter or cystostomy tube for 10 minutes.
    3. Remove the clamp and drain the bladder.
    4. Repeat the procedure 3 times a day or as directed by your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of RENACIDIN?

Renacidin may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Fever
  • urinary tract infections
  • elevated serum creatinine levels in the blood
  • discomfort in your upper abdomen, back, or sides

The most common side effects of RENACIDIN are “bladder irritability” (a condition where the muscles in the bladder contract involuntarily, resulting in a sudden, urgent, uncontrollable need to urinate) and chemical cystitis (an inflammation of the bladder caused by a reaction in the body to certain chemical substances, including certain hygiene products), which occur in approximately 3% of patients. In addition, less than 1% of patients receiving RENACIDIN will experience a transient (temporary or intermittent) burning sensation in the bladder following the introduction of Renacidin.

If you experience any of these side effects, you should stop using RENACIDIN immediately and notify your doctor right away. You are encouraged to report any negative side effects to the manufacturer, United-Guardian, Inc., at 631-273-0900, and to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088, or the FDA web site at ww.fda.gov/medwatch.

Need more information?

This is only a summary of important information regarding RENACIDIN. Ask your healthcare provider for complete product information.