Prescription medicine
Potassium citrate Brand names: Urocit-K
Potassium citrate (Urocit-K) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1985. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 12 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.175 per potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
Check it at the source: the potassium citrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 2, 2021, Mission Pharmacal Company); the NDA 19071 record on Drugs@FDA; every potassium citrate label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of December 2, 2021; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageAcidosis (RTA) with Calcium Stones Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of renal tubular acidosis [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].
Forms and strengths
- 5 meq
- 10 meq
- 15 meq
- 540 mg
- 1080 mg
Extended-release tablet; tablet.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 30, 1985 Urocit-K, Mission Pharma; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 9 first June 8, 2006; 8 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 15 of which 12 under generic applications, 2 under brand applications, repackagers included
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.175 per tablet Potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 2 since 2018 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest July 18, 2018
- FAERS reports
- 5,453 through July 30, 2026
What is potassium citrate used for?
From the label: indications and usageAcidosis (RTA) with Calcium Stones Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of renal tubular acidosis [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. 1.2 Hypocitraturic Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis of any Etiology Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of Hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. 1.3 Uric Acid Lithiasis with or without Calcium Stones Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of Uric acid lithiasis with or without calcium stones [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. […]
FDA pharmacologic class: Anti-coagulant and Calculi Dissolution Agent.
Source: FDA drug label (UROCIT-K), Mission Pharmacal Company, effective December 2, 2021 (SPL set 72cdea1b-2240-41db-987d-86d5c6aaa978), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for potassium citrate (Urocit-K)?
The FDA approved the first generic potassium citrate on June 8, 2006. 9 generic applications are approved; 8 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.
FDA's NDC Directory lists potassium citrate from 12 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 2 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
- 1985 earliest approval on file
- 2006 first generic approved
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for potassium citrate (Urocit-K)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.175 per Potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet, up 5% from $0.167 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet (generic)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet | Generic | $0.175 per tablet | $5.25 | +5% |
| Potassium citrate ER 15 mEq tablet | Generic | $0.174 per tablet | $5.23 | -19% |
| Potassium citrate ER 5 mEq tablet | Generic | $0.123 per tablet | $3.70 | -6% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has potassium citrate been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 2 recalls naming potassium citrate since 2018: 0 Class I (the most serious), 2 Class II, 0 Class III; 0 still ongoing. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2018 | Class II | VENSUN PHARMACEUTICALS INC | Failed Tablet/Capsule Specifications: Tablet breakage |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the potassium citrate label say about other medicines?
The potassium citrate label names 5 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 1 other medicine name potassium citrate. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Aliskiren | drug interactions | 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. |
| Amiloride | contraindications | Such conditions include: chronic renal failure, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, acute dehydration, strenuous physical exercise in unconditioned individuals, adrenal insufficiency, extensive tissue breakdown or the administration of a potassium-sparing agent (such as triamterene, spironolactone or amiloride). |
| Eplerenone | drug interactions | 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. |
| Spironolactone | contraindications | Such conditions include: chronic renal failure, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, acute dehydration, strenuous physical exercise in unconditioned individuals, adrenal insufficiency, extensive tissue breakdown or the administration of a potassium-sparing agent (such as triamterene, spironolactone or amiloride). |
| Triamterene | contraindications | Such conditions include: chronic renal failure, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, acute dehydration, strenuous physical exercise in unconditioned individuals, adrenal insufficiency, extensive tissue breakdown or the administration of a potassium-sparing agent (such as triamterene, spironolactone or amiloride). |
Source: FDA drug label (UROCIT-K), Mission Pharmacal Company, effective December 2, 2021 (SPL set 72cdea1b-2240-41db-987d-86d5c6aaa978), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for potassium citrate?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 5,453 reports that list potassium citrate among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 316 are coded as a death and 1,706 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What next?
- Other anti-coagulants
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Potassium citrate side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other