Potassium citrate

Potassium citrate may be used to control Uric acid and Cystine kidney stones.

Chemical Formula: C6H5K3O7 + H2O

Appearance: A white, slightly hygroscopic crystalline powder. It is odorless with a saline taste.

Uses
Potassium citrate is rapidly absorbed when given by mouth and is excreted in the urine as the carbonate. It is, therefore, effective in reducing the pain and frequency of micturition when these are caused by highly acidic urine. It is used for this purpose in dogs and cats, but is chiefly employed as a non-irritating diuretic.

Potassium citrate is an effective way to treat/manage gout and arrhythmia, if the patient is hypokalemic. In common with other substances which render the urine alkaline, it may be used to reduce the danger of crystalluria during sulfonamide therapy.

It is widely used to treat urinary calculi (kidney stones), and is often used by patients with cystinuria.

It is also used in many soft drinks as a buffer.

Administration
Potassium citrate is usually administered by mouth in dilute aqueous solution.

The maximum amount of potassium citrate allowed by law in a tablet or capsule is only 99 mg (approximately 3% of the daily allowance). This is because of its somewhat caustic effect on the stomach lining, and the potential for other mild health hazards.
 * (Only part of potassium citrate is potassium. There are pills sold in the USA with 258 mg of potassium citrate, only part of which is potassium.)