Abstract

Potassium Citrate Mixture is sometimes used to make the urine alkaline but tastes unpleasant. Effervescent tablets (Effercitrate - Typharm) have recently been introduced as a palatable and more convenient alternative. One tablet contains the equivalent of 5 ml of the Mixture BPC 1973 (13.9 mmol potassium) in a lemon-flavoured effervescent base. Effercitrate may prove more acceptable than the mixture when urinary alkalinization is needed as in patients with post-irradiation cystitis,¹ in certain urinary infections, and to prevent crystalluria during treatment with high doses of sulphonamides or methotrexate. Both preparations should be avoided in patients with chronic renal failure.