Clinical information
Common uses
- renal tubular acidosis with calcium stones
- low-citrate calcium oxalate kidney stones
- uric acid kidney stones
Common side effects
- stomach discomfort
- feeling sick or vomiting
- diarrhoea or loose stools
Cautions
- can cause dangerous high potassium — avoid with kidney failure; blood tests needed
- can ulcerate the gut — stop for severe vomiting, pain or bleeding
- avoid with peptic ulcer disease or slowed gut passage
- avoid during active urinary tract infection
Interactions
- potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone (avoid — severe hyperkalaemia)
- ACE inhibitors and ARBs (monitor potassium)
- NSAIDs (monitor potassium)
- anticholinergics (more gut irritation)
Pregnancy: only if clearly needed
Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, potassium citrate (Urocit-K) label, setid 72cdea1b-2240-41db-987d-86d5c6aaa978 (accessed 2026-08-16)