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 →

Compare with Another Drug → Full Side Effects Report →

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.

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

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.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) As of 2025

Reports over time

Adverse-event reports filed for potassium citrate each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

0200400600 20042007201020132016201920222025 467

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.

fewest reports most reports

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

Female 2,452 (51%)
Male 2,347 (49%)

Age Distribution

0–17 161
18–44 502
45–64 1,160
65–74 987
75+ 708

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

DEATH 122
PNEUMONIA 15
ANAEMIA 14
STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME 13
FATIGUE 12
ORAL DISORDER 12
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 12
THROMBOCYTOPENIA 12
BLISTER 11
CONJUNCTIVITIS 11

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

FALL 138
NEPHROLITHIASIS 130
PNEUMONIA 130
PAIN 122
DYSPNOEA 112
NAUSEA 103
FATIGUE 91
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION 89
DIARRHOEA 88
ANAEMIA 87

Source: 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

minor spironolactone

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.

minor amiloride

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.

minor eplerenone

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.

minor aliskiren

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.

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What should my urine pH be while taking this medication?
The goal is to increase your urine pH to a level between 6.0 and 7.0.
How often will my doctor check my blood?
Your doctor will check your blood every four months to monitor your electrolytes, kidney function, and blood counts. If you have heart or kidney disease, or acidosis, they may check it more often.
Can I take this with other medications?
Certain medications can interact with potassium citrate. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
What if I experience stomach upset?
Taking the medicine with food or reducing the dosage may help with stomach upset.
Are there foods I should avoid?
Limit your salt intake while taking this medication.
What is the goal of taking this medication?
The goal is to restore normal citrate levels in your urine (greater than 320 mg/day and as close to 640 mg/day as possible).
What should I do if I see tablet pieces in my stool?
It is normal to see intact tablet pieces (matrices) in your stool.
Can this medication cause any serious problems?
Yes, it can cause high potassium levels in your blood, which can be dangerous. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe vomiting, stomach pain, or bleeding.
What if I have a urinary tract infection?
You should not take this medication if you have an active urinary tract infection.
Can I take this if I have a peptic ulcer?
No, you should not take this medication if you have a peptic ulcer.
What are the common side effects of potassium citrate?
The registry lists Abdominal discomfort, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Loose bowel movements, Nausea among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for potassium citrate. The compiled record contains 5,207 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does potassium citrate interact with other medications?
The registry has 4 documented interaction rows for potassium citrate. Notable source-record pairings include spironolactone, amiloride, eplerenone. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is potassium citrate?
potassium citrate belongs to the Urinary Alkalinizer drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine is used to manage renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with calcium stones.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for potassium citrate?
The FDA label for potassium citrate contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Urinary Alkalinizer

Other drugs grouped near potassium citrate - same-class peers and common alternatives.

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darifenacin

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dutasteride

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dutasteride/tamsulosin

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Compare beyond drug class

Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share

Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for potassium citrate: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.

Similar FAERS report volume

Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 5,207.

4 peers

Similar death-report share

Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 5.72%.

4 peers

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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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: December 24, 2024

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page