potassium citrate

Generic Name: potassium citrate
Other Brand Names: Urocit-K

What is potassium citrate?

Potassium citrate makes the urine less acidic. This helps to reduce the formation of kidney stones.

Potassium citrate is used to prevent the formation of kidney stones that are caused by high levels of calcium or uric acid in the urine.

Potassium citrate may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking potassium citrate?

Do not use potassium citrate without first talking to your doctor if you

  • are taking a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), or triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide);

  • are taking a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor Con, Kaon, Micro-K, Slow-K, and others;

  • have a high level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) or a condition that may increase the risk of hyperkalemia such as kidney disease, diabetes, dehydration, adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease, or serious illness or infection;

  • have a stomach ulcer, intestinal obstruction, or delayed gastric emptying; or

  • have a urinary tract infection.

You may not be able to take potassium citrate, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Potassium citrate is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take potassium citrate without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether potassium citrate will be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take potassium citrate without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take potassium citrate?

Take potassium citrate exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water to ensure adequate swallowing. If a tablet feels to be stuck in the throat, contact your healthcare provider.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, or suck the tablets. If you have difficulty swallowing the tablets, contact your doctor.

Potassium citrate can be taken with or without food. Taking the medication with food is recommended to reduce nausea.

Discuss with your healthcare provider the amount of fluid you should consume daily. Drinking extra water each day, up to 2 liters, may minimize the formation of kidney stones.

Do not be alarmed if you find what appears to be a tablet in the stool. This is the outer shell of the tablet only. The medication has been absorbed by the body and the shell may be passed out in the stool.

It is important to take potassium citrate regularly to get the most benefit.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with potassium citrate to monitor progress and side effects.

Store potassium citrate at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of potassium citrate?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Where can I get more information about potassium citrate?
Your pharmacist has information about potassium citrate written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of potassium citrate?

Stop taking potassium citrate and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • abdominal pain; black bloody, or tarry stools; or blood in vomit; or

  • muscle weakness or irregular heartbeats (may indicate high levels of potassium in the blood).

Other, less serious side effects may also to occur. Continue to take potassium citrate and talk to your doctor if you experience

  • nausea or vomiting; or

  • diarrhea or loose stools.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about potassium citrate?

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, or suck the tablets. If you have difficulty swallowing the tablets, contact your doctor.

Discuss with your healthcare provider dietary recommendations while taking potassium citrate. A diet high in salt should be avoided. However, do not use a salt substitute without first talking to your healthcare provider. Salt substitutes may contain potassium.

Discuss with your healthcare provider the amount of fluid you should consume daily. Drinking extra water each day, up to 2 liters, may minimize the formation of kidney stones.

What should I avoid while taking potassium citrate?

Discuss with your healthcare provider dietary recommendations while taking potassium citrate. A diet high in salt should be avoided. However, do not use a salt substitute without first talking to your healthcare provider. Salt substitutes may contain potassium.

Discuss with your healthcare provider the amount of fluid you should consume daily. Drinking extra water each day, up to 2 liters, may minimize the formation of kidney stones.

What other drugs will affect potassium citrate?

Do not take potassium citrate without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

  • eplerenone (Inspra);

  • a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor Con, Kaon, Micro-K, Slow-K, and others;

  • a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), or triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide);

  • an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik); or

  • digoxin (Lanoxin).

You may not be able to take potassium citrate, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with potassium citrate. Talk to your doctor before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

What happens if I have an overdose of potassium citrate?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a potassium citrate overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, irregular heartbeats, and heart attack.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008