Urocit-K 5 (Oral)

Potassium citrate is used to treat a kidney stone condition called renal tubular acidosis. It is also used to prevent kidney stones that may happen with gout.

Potassium citrate is a urinary alkalinizer. It works by making the urine more alkaline (less acidic).

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is very important for your doctor to check your progress at regular visits to ensure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to monitor for unwanted effects.

You should not take this medicine if you are also using atropine, benztropine (Cogentin®), glycopyrrolate (Robinul®), or a diuretic or "water pill" (such as amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene, Aldactone®, Dyrenium®, or Midamor®). Using these medicines together may cause serious problems.

Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. Stop using this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: abdominal or stomach pain; confusion; difficulty breathing; irregular heartbeat; nausea or vomiting; nervousness; numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips; shortness of breath; or weakness or heaviness in the legs.

Stop using this medicine and contact your doctor right away if you have bloody or black, tarry stools; constipation; severe stomach pain; or vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. These may be symptoms of a serious stomach problem.

Do not take other medicines unless you have discussed them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to think about the risks versus the benefits of taking it. This is a choice you will make with your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Let your doctor know if you have ever had an unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, inform your healthcare professional about any other allergies you may have, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

There is no information on how potassium citrate affects children because appropriate studies have not been done. Safety and effectiveness have not been established for this age group.

Geriatric

There is no information on how potassium citrate affects older adults.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication while breastfeeding. You should weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before using this medication if you are breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together. In other cases, two different medicines may be used together, even if an interaction might happen. If you are taking this medicine, it is very important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions are significant, but this list may not include all possible interactions.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to prescribe this medication or may change some of your other medicines.

• Aclidinium
• Amantadine
• Amiloride
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Anisotropine
• Atropine
• Belladonna
• Benztropine
• Biperiden
• Bornaprine
• Brompheniramine
• Butylscopolamine
• Canrenoate
• Canrenone
• Carbinoxamine
• Carisoprodol
• Chlorpheniramine
• Chlorpromazine
• Cimetropium
• Clemastine
• Clidinium
• Clomipramine
• Clozapine
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Cyclopentolate
• Cyproheptadine
• Darifenacin
• Desipramine
• Dicyclomine
• Dimenhydrinate
• Diphenhydramine
• Doxepin
• Emepronium
• Eplerenone
• Fesoterodine
• Flavoxate
• Fluphenazine
• Glycopyrrolate
• Glycopyrronium Tosylate
• Homatropine
• Hydroxyzine
• Hyoscyamine
• Imipramine
• Ipratropium
• Isopropamide
• Loxapine
• Mebeverine
• Meclizine
• Mepenzolate
• Methantheline
• Methixene
• Methscopolamine
• Nortriptyline
• Olanzapine
• Orphenadrine
• Oxitropium Bromide
• Oxybutynin
• Paroxetine
• Perphenazine
• Pimozide
• Pinaverium
• Pipenzolate Bromide
• Pirenzepine
• Prochlorperazine
• Procyclidine
• Promethazine
• Propantheline
• Propiverine
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Revefenacin
• Scopolamine
• Solifenacin
• Spironolactone
• Stramonium
• Terodiline
• Thioridazine
• Thiothixene
• Tiotropium
• Tizanidine
• Tolterodine
• Triamterene
• Trifluoperazine
• Trihexyphenidyl
• Trimethobenzamide
• Trimipramine
• Tropicamide
• Trospium
• Umeclidinium
• Valethamate

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.

• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Aliskiren
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Azilsartan
• Azilsartan Medoxomil
• Benazepril
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Candesartan
• Captopril
• Celecoxib
• Choline Salicylate
• Cilazapril
• Clonixin
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Dipyrone
• Droxicam
• Enalapril
• Enalaprilat
• Eprosartan
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Fosinopril
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Irbesartan
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Lisinopril
• Lornoxicam
• Losartan
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Moexipril
• Morniflumate
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
• Olmesartan
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Perindopril
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Piroxicam
• Pranoprofen
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Rofecoxib
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Sodium Salicylate
• Spirapril
• Sulindac
• Telmisartan
• Tenoxicam
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Trandolapril
• Valdecoxib
• Valsartan
• Zofenopril

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken at the same time as eating food or certain types of food because interactions may happen. Drinking alcohol or using tobacco with certain medicines can also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical issues may affect how you can use this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Acidosis (high acid in the blood) or
• Electrolyte imbalance (high or low sodium, chloride, or carbon dioxide in the blood) or
• Heart disease or
• Kidney disease—Use with caution. May worsen these conditions.

• Adrenal problems or
• Dehydration or
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) or
• Kidney failure or
• Infection (e.g., urinary tract infection) or
• Peptic ulcer or
• Stomach problems (e.g., intestinal blockage, digestion problems) or
• Tissue injury—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may require medical attention.

Check with your doctor right away if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach discomfort
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• confusion
• difficult breathing
• irregular heartbeat
• nervousness
• numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
• shortness of breath
• weakness or heaviness of the legs

Other side effects not listed may also happen in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Urocit-K 10
• Urocit-K 15
• Urocit-K 5

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet, Extended Release

Therapeutic Class: Urinary Alkalinizer

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

In addition to the use of this medicine, treatment for your kidney stones may include changes in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium (salt). Your doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet.

It is best to take this medicine with a meal or bedtime snack, or within 30 minutes after meals.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or suck it. Doing so, may cause irritation in the mouth or throat.

Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the tablets, or if the tablet seems to stick or gets stuck in your throat.

While taking the extended-release tablet, part of it may pass into your stools. This is normal and is nothing to worry about.

Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are using this medicine. This will keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (extended-release tablets):For treatment and prevention of kidney stones: Adults—At first, 15 to 30 milliequivalents (mEq) two times a day, or 10 to 20 mEq three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mEq per day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

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