Various sorbent cartridges for use in sorbent dialysis are constructed to allow even dialysate stream flow through the sorbent cartridges, at relatively high flow rates, with sufficient engagement with sorbent media within the sorbent cartridges and without creating drill-through problems. The sorbent cartridges may have various columns and/or compartments for housing the sorbent media. The sorbent cartridges may have various horizontally oriented restrictors, with particularly sized holes, and with various vertically oriented side walls, that both form the various columns and/or compartments and that direct and control the dialysate stream through the sorbent cartridges in an even manner.