Aluminum intake from non-prescription drugs and sucralfate

The use of non-prescription antacids to control hyperphosphatemia has been implicated as a primary cause of aluminum intoxications in patients with reduced renal function. Additional reports suggest that oral aluminum intake may have adverse effects on mineral metabolism of patients with normal renal function. The non-prescription drugs that contain substantial quantities of aluminum salts include some antacids, buffered aspirins, antidiarrheals, and vaginal douches. Sucralfate, an anti-ulcer drug available by prescription, is the aluminum salt of sucrose sulfate. If taken as directed, the daily aluminum intake from the antacids can be as much as 5,000 mg. When aluminum buffered aspirins are used as part of the drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, aluminum intake can be elevated by 700 mg/day. Although aluminum intoxications have been reported among patients with reduced renal function, existing reports are not sufficient to estimate whether the chronic elevation of aluminum intake from drugs is causing adverse health effects among other patient populations.