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Potassium citrate for kidney stones

Goal: What trials of potassium citrate used in adults who already had calcium kidney stones.

Each protocol describes what studies used, for one goal or for one group of people. It is not advice for you: talk to a doctor before you start a supplement.

Updated 9 Nov 2026
Dose

30 to 60 mEq of potassium citrate a day, which is 1,173 to 2,346 mg of potassium.[1][2] About 55 mEq a day in trials after shock wave treatment.[3]

Form

Potassium citrate in wax-matrix tablets in a 3-year trial.[1] Other trials used potassium-sodium citrate or potassium-magnesium citrate.[4]

How long

At least 6 months in the trials of the Cochrane review, and 3 years in one placebo-controlled trial.[4][1]

What studies found

A 2015 Cochrane review of 7 trials with 477 people found a lower risk of new stones with citrate salts (risk ratio 0.26), with trial quality moderate to poor.[4] In one trial, new stones fell from 1.2 to 0.1 per person a year with potassium citrate and stayed at 1.1 with placebo.[1]

Ask a doctor first

Stomach upset was the main side effect, and more people stopped citrate than control treatment because of side effects.[4] These doses are far above the 99 mg in most supplements.[2]

People with kidney disease, or who take ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or potassium-sparing diuretics, should ask a doctor or pharmacist first.[2]

References

  1. Randomized double-blind study of potassium citrate in idiopathic hypocitraturic calcium nephrolithiasis. Barcelo P, Wuhl O, Servitge E, Rousaud A, Pak CY J Urol, 1993. PMID 8230497
  2. Potassium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
  3. Effect of potassium citrate supplement on stone recurrence before or after lithotripsy: systematic review and meta-analysis. Carvalho M, Erbano BO, Kuwaki EY, Pontes HP, Liu JWTW, Boros LH, et al. Urolithiasis, 2017. PMID 27915395
  4. Citrate salts for preventing and treating calcium containing kidney stones in adults. Phillips R, Hanchanale VS, Myatt A, Somani B, Nabi G, Biyani CS Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015. PMID 26439475