Potassium Citrate
Treatment for Kidney Stones
Typical Dosage: 10-20 mEq 2-3 times daily (adjust to urine pH)
Effectiveness
85%
Safety Score
75%
Clinical Trials
23
Participants
8K
Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)
Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
75
DangerousModerateSafe
Treatment Details
Dosage Range
10-20 mEq 2-3 times daily (adjust to urine pH)
Time to Effect
Weeks to months for dissolution/prevention
Treatment Duration
Long-term/Lifetime
Evidence Quality
HIGHNumber Needed to Treat (NNT)
4(Treat 4 patients to see 1 additional successful outcome)
Number Needed to Harm (NNH)
25(Treat 25 patients to see 1 additional serious adverse event)
Confidence Score
85%confidence in effectiveness data
Health Economics
Annual Cost of Care
Drug Cost:$300
Monitoring:$200
Side Effect Mgmt:$50
Total Annual:$550
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Cost-Effectiveness Rating
EXCELLENTICER
$30,000/QALY
QALYs Gained
1
Outcome-Based Costs
Cost per Responder
$647
Cost per Remission
$786
Potassium Citrate Outcomes
for Kidney Stones
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+85%
Response Rate
+85%
Remission Rate
+70%
Common Side Effects
GI upset (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain)
+15%
Hyperkalemia
+1%
Active Clinical Trials
7 active trials recruiting for Potassium Citrate in Kidney Stones
Potassium Citrate and Crystal Light Lemonade
NCT05389995RECRUITINGNA
10 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Chicago, United States
Started: Aug 1, 2022
Role of Medication in Making Urine Less Acidic as Part of Kidney Stone Prevention
NCT06819111NOT YET RECRUITINGPHASE1
20 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Started: Jan 1, 2026
Comparing Alkalinizing Agents Efficacy on Stone Risk in Patients on a Metabolically Controlled Diet
NCT04651088NOT YET RECRUITINGEARLY_PHASE1
15 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Dallas, United States
Started: Jan 1, 2026
A Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Oral Potassium Citrate in Preventing Ureteral Stent Encrustation in Patients Undergoing Ureteroscopy for Uric Acid Kidney Stones
NCT06819553ACTIVE NOT RECRUITINGPHASE2, PHASE3
48 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Zagazig, Egypt
Started: Nov 3, 2024
Oxalate and Citrate in Humans - Response to Citrate
NCT06944223RECRUITINGNA
24 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Chicago, United States
Started: Oct 1, 2025
Hydroxycitrate: A Novel Therapy for Calcium Phosphate Urinary Stones
NCT06003348RECRUITINGPHASE4
25 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Dallas, United States
Started: Dec 13, 2023
Exploratory Study on the Treatment of Gout With Potassium Citrate Sustained-release Tablets
NCT06966635RECRUITINGPHASE4
312 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Shanghai, China
Started: Apr 10, 2024
Completed Clinical Trials
8 completed trials for Potassium Citrate in Kidney Stones
Efficacy of Potassium Sodium Hydrogen Citrate Therapy on Renal Stone Recurrence and/or Residual Fragments After Shockwave Lithotripsy and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis
NCT01329042COMPLETEDPHASE4
80 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Started: May 1, 2005
A Dietary Source of Potassium Citrate to Resolve Hypocitraturia and Aciduria in Patients With Kidney Stones
NCT03984409COMPLETEDNA
22 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Indianapolis, United States +1 more
Started: Jun 1, 2019
Effect of Urine Alkalinazation on Urinary Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Cystinuria
NCT03836144COMPLETED
63 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Paris, France
Started: Apr 2, 2015
Phase III Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Potassium Phosphate Vs Potassium Citrate for Absorptive Hypercalciuria
NCT00004284COMPLETEDPHASE3
300 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Started: Apr 1, 1995
Treatment for Calcium Phosphate Kidney Stone Disease
NCT01754779COMPLETEDPHASE2
13 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Dallas, United States
Started: Jul 1, 2012
Litholytic Therapy for Coral Urate Nephrolithiasis
NCT07162974COMPLETEDNA
49 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Moscow, Russia
Started: Jan 1, 2023
Effectiveness of Urinary Alkalinizing Agents on Kidney Stone Risk
NCT04095975COMPLETEDPHASE4
31 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Madison, United States
Started: Aug 28, 2019
Empiric Versus Selective Prevention Strategies for Kidney Stone Disease
NCT05365477COMPLETEDPHASE4
56 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Nashville, United States
Started: Aug 4, 2022
Showing 20 of 23 total trials