Prescription medication · Urinary Alkalinizer
potassium citrate
Also sold as Urocit-K. This medicine is used to manage renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with calcium stones.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5,207
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 4
- InteractionsFew interactions
- Rx
- Availability
What the data shows
potassium citrate (Urocit-K) is a prescription Urinary Alkalinizer, reported less often than most tracked drugs (5,207 FDA reports), with 4 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
potassium citrate (Urocit-K) is a prescription Urinary Alkalinizer. This medicine is used to manage renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with calcium stones.
Potassium citrate is a medicine that helps manage kidney problems. It can help prevent kidney stones and balance the acid levels in your urine.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
What it does
This medicine is used to manage renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with calcium stones.
Common side effects
Abdominal discomfort, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
This medicine can cause high potassium levels in your blood, which can be dangerous.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from potassium citrate's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Potassium citrate works by increasing the amount of citrate in your urine. This makes your urine less acidic. Less acidic urine helps prevent kidney stones from forming.
How to Take It
Take this medicine with meals or within 30 minutes after eating or having a bedtime snack. Your doctor will tell you how much to take, depending on how much citrate is in your urine. You may take it two or three times a day. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and try to drink at least two liters (about 8 glasses) of fluids daily.
This is a plain-language summary of potassium citrate's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of potassium citrate's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of potassium citrate's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,207 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for potassium citrate, by number of reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
346 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
319 reports
- Loose, watery stools
Loose, watery stools
310 reports
- Discomfort
Discomfort
300 reports
- Kidney stones
Kidney stones
270 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
228 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
220 reports
- Pain in your head
Pain in your head
202 reports
- Accidentally losing your balance
Accidentally losing your balance
198 reports
- Throwing up
Throwing up
173 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for potassium citrate each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where potassium citrate sits
potassium citrate has more FDA adverse-event reports than 25% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is potassium citrate; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,207 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
5,207
Reports Mentioning Death
298
5.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,643
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | FATIGUE | 346 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 320 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 310 |
| 5 | PAIN | 300 |
| 6 | NEPHROLITHIASIS | 270 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 228 |
| 9 | DYSPNOEA | 220 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 202 |
| 11 | FALL | 198 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 174 |
| 13 | PNEUMONIA | 152 |
| 14 | ASTHENIA | 149 |
| 15 | ARTHRALGIA | 142 |
| 16 | PYREXIA | 140 |
| 17 | URINARY TRACT INFECTION | 139 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine can cause high potassium levels in your blood, which can be dangerous. You should not take this medicine if you have kidney failure, uncontrolled diabetes, or other conditions that make it hard for your body to get rid of potassium. If you have severe vomiting, stomach pain, or bleeding, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS The following drug interactions may occur with potassium citrate: Potassium-sparing diuretics: concomitant administration should be avoided since the simultaneous administration of these agents can produce severe hyperkalemia (7.1) Drugs that slow gastrointestinal transit time: These agents (such as anticholinergics) can be expected to increase the gastrointestinal irritation produced by potassium salts (7.2) Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors: Monitor for hyperkalemia (7.3) Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) monitor for hyperkalemia (7.4) 7.1 Potential...
Mechanism: Both of these medications cause the body to hold onto potassium, which can lead to dangerously high levels in the blood.
What to do: You should generally avoid taking these two medications together to prevent serious side effects.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS The following drug interactions may occur with potassium citrate: Potassium-sparing diuretics: concomitant administration should be avoided since the simultaneous administration of these agents can produce severe hyperkalemia (7.1) Drugs that slow gastrointestinal transit time: These agents (such as anticholinergics) can be expected to increase the gastrointestinal irritation produced by potassium salts (7.2) Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors: Monitor for hyperkalemia (7.3) Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) monitor for hyperkalemia (7.4) 7.1 Potential...
Mechanism: Amiloride prevents the kidneys from removing potassium, and taking it with a potassium supplement can cause levels to rise too high.
What to do: Avoid using these two drugs at the same time to prevent health risks from high potassium levels.
7.3 Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, eplerenone, or aliskiren produce potassium retention by inhibiting aldosterone production.
Mechanism: Eplerenone changes how your body handles minerals, making it harder for your kidneys to flush out extra potassium.
What to do: Your healthcare provider may need to check your blood work often to monitor your potassium levels.
7.3 Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, eplerenone, or aliskiren produce potassium retention by inhibiting aldosterone production.
Mechanism: Aliskiren blocks a hormone that helps the body get rid of potassium, which can lead to a buildup when combined with potassium citrate.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about monitoring your potassium levels regularly while taking this combination.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What should my urine pH be while taking this medication?
How often will my doctor check my blood?
Can I take this with other medications?
What if I experience stomach upset?
Are there foods I should avoid?
What is the goal of taking this medication?
What should I do if I see tablet pieces in my stool?
Can this medication cause any serious problems?
What if I have a urinary tract infection?
Can I take this if I have a peptic ulcer?
What are the common side effects of potassium citrate?
Does potassium citrate interact with other medications?
What drug class is potassium citrate?
Is potassium citrate safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for potassium citrate
The FDA label for potassium citrate (sold under brand names such as Urocit-K) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Urinary Alkalinizer class. This medicine is used to manage renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with calcium stones. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Abdominal discomfort, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,207 voluntary reports. The database also lists 4 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 24, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages