Potassium

Potassium is a mineral that is found in many foods and is needed for several functions of your body, especially the beating of your heart.

Potassium citrate is used to treat a kidney stone condition called renal tubular acidosis.

Potassium citrate may also be used for other purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Take potassium citrate exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Measure the liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Take potassium citrate with a meal or bedtime snack, or within 30 minutes after a meal.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

You should not take potassium citrate tablets if you have problems with your esophagus, stomach, or intestines that make it difficult for you to swallow or digest pills.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Serious side effects of potassium citrate include uneven heartbeat, muscle weakness or limp feeling, severe stomach pain, and numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or mouth.

• high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia);
• kidney failure;
• a urinary tract infection;
• untreated or uncontrolled diabetes;
• Addison's disease (an adrenal gland disorder);
• a large tissue injury such as a severe burn;
• a peptic ulcer in your stomach;
• if you are severely dehydrated; or
• if you are taking a "potassium-sparing" diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide).

You should not take potassium citrate tablets if you have problems with your esophagus, stomach, or intestines that make it difficult for you to swallow or digest pills.

Before using potassium citrate, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;
• congestive heart failure, enlarged heart, or history of heart attack;
• other heart disease or high blood pressure;
• diabetes;
• a blockage in your stomach or intestines; or
• chronic diarrhea (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take potassium citrate.

• confusion, anxiety, feeling like you might pass out;
• uneven heartbeat;
• extreme thirst, increased urination;
• leg discomfort;
• muscle weakness or limp feeling;
• numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet, or around your mouth;
• severe stomach pain, ongoing diarrhea or vomiting;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools; or
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea or upset stomach;
• mild or occasional diarrhea; or
• appearance of a potassium citrate tablet in your stool.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose symptoms may include heavy feeling in your arms or legs, muscle weakness, limp feeling, slow or uneven heartbeat, chest pain, or feeling like you might pass out.

Avoid taking potassium supplements or using other products that contain potassium without first asking your doctor. Salt substitutes or low-salt dietary products often contain potassium. If you take certain products together you may accidentally get too much potassium. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains potassium.

While taking this medication, avoid strenuous exercise if you are not in proper condition for it.

The following drugs can interact with potassium citrate. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

• eplerenone (Inspra);
• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
• candesartan (Atacand), losartan (Cozaar, Hyzaar), valsartan (Diovan), or telmisartan (Micardis);
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
• mepenzolate (Cantil);
• quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release);
• atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
• a bronchodilator such as ipratroprium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);
• bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
• irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine);
• 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
• any type of diuretic (water pill) such as bumetanide (Bumex), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), or torsemide (Demadex).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with potassium citrate. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

• Potassium Citrate vs. Gluconate: What’s the difference?