Comprehensive medication guide to Urocit-K XR including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$5–$30 copay for generic potassium citrate ER; typically Tier 1–2 on most commercial plans. Prior authorization is rarely required for the generic. Brand-name Urocit-K may be Tier 3 or require PA.
Estimated Cash Pricing
Generic potassium citrate ER retails at $84–$99 for a 30-day supply; as low as $13–$15 with a GoodRx or SingleCare coupon. Brand-name Urocit-K costs $217–$364 for 100 tablets at retail.
Medfinder Findability Score
72/100
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Urocit-K XR is the brand name for potassium citrate extended-release tablets, manufactured by Mission Pharmacal. It was FDA-approved in 1985 and is classified as a urinary pH modifier. The drug is prescribed to prevent kidney stones and treat renal tubular acidosis by alkalinizing the urine — raising urinary pH and increasing urinary citrate levels.
The medication is available in three strengths: 5 mEq, 10 mEq, and 15 mEq extended-release wax-matrix tablets. FDA-approved generic versions of potassium citrate ER are available and are therapeutically equivalent to the brand-name product. Generic potassium citrate ER is significantly less expensive and more widely stocked at most pharmacies.
Urocit-K XR has three FDA-approved indications: hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, uric acid lithiasis (with or without calcium stones), and renal tubular acidosis (RTA) with calcium stone formation. It is one of the most commonly prescribed long-term kidney stone prevention medications.
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Urocit-K XR works by providing an alkaline load through its metabolism into bicarbonate in the body. This alkaline load acts on the kidneys in two critical ways: it increases urinary pH and raises urinary citrate levels. Together, these effects create a urine environment that is substantially less favorable for kidney stone formation.
Citrate is a natural stone inhibitor. It binds to calcium ions in the urine, forming soluble calcium citrate complexes that reduce free calcium available for oxalate crystallization. Citrate also directly inhibits the spontaneous nucleation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystals. For uric acid stones, the rise in urinary pH (to 6.0–7.0) converts insoluble uric acid to the more soluble urate ion — which can actually dissolve existing uric acid stones over time.
The extended-release wax-matrix formulation delivers potassium citrate gradually over several hours, maintaining more consistent urinary pH and citrate throughout the day compared to immediate-release formulations. Treatment targets are urinary citrate > 320 mg/day (ideally 640 mg/day) and urinary pH of 6.0–7.0, monitored every four months by 24-hour urine testing.
5 mEq — Extended-release oral tablet
540 mg potassium citrate per tablet; tan to yellowish, modified ball shaped, MPC 600 debossed on one side
10 mEq — Extended-release oral tablet
1080 mg potassium citrate per tablet; tan to yellowish, elliptical, 610 on one side, MISSION on the other. Most commonly prescribed and stocked strength.
15 mEq — Extended-release oral tablet
1620 mg potassium citrate per tablet; tan to yellowish, modified rectangle, M15 on one side
As of 2026, potassium citrate extended release is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list. However, patients sometimes encounter localized stocking gaps — particularly for the 5 mEq and 15 mEq strengths, and for brand-name Urocit-K as opposed to generic versions. The 10 mEq strength is the most widely stocked. Generic potassium citrate ER is generally more available than the brand.
Patients who have difficulty filling their prescription at one pharmacy often find success at another nearby pharmacy, particularly independent pharmacies or those that stock the generic formulation. Mail-order pharmacy is an excellent long-term solution for reliable access to all three strengths.
If you're having trouble locating Urocit-K XR, medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones can fill your prescription — saving you hours of phone calls. Provide your medication name, strength, and zip code, and medfinder sends results directly to your phone.
Because Urocit-K XR is not a controlled substance, any licensed healthcare prescriber in the United States can prescribe it without DEA restrictions. It is most commonly prescribed by specialists who manage kidney stone disease and related metabolic conditions, but primary care providers can also prescribe and manage refills once a diagnosis and baseline metabolic workup have been established.
Urologists — most common prescribers; specialize in kidney stone disease and urinary tract conditions
Nephrologists — kidney specialists; manage renal tubular acidosis and complex stone disease
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — can prescribe for patients with established diagnoses and known urine chemistry
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — can prescribe in most states, often within urology or nephrology practices
Telehealth prescribing is available for Urocit-K XR with no legal restrictions, since it is not a controlled substance. Patients with established stone disease and prior lab workup can obtain refills and prescription management via telehealth without an in-person visit requirement.
No. Urocit-K XR (potassium citrate extended release) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. It is a citrate salt of potassium — a mineral compound — and carries no abuse potential or dependency risk.
Because it is not a controlled substance, Urocit-K XR can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider, including via telehealth without an in-person visit requirement. Prescriptions can be transferred between pharmacies without restriction, and refills can be issued with more flexibility than DEA-scheduled medications. There are no purchase limits or quantity restrictions imposed by law.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and are usually mild. They can often be reduced or eliminated by taking the medication with food:
Abdominal discomfort or stomach pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea or loose stools
Intact wax matrix shells visible in stool (normal — does not mean the medication isn't working)
Hyperkalemia (high potassium): Can be fatal; symptoms include muscle weakness, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing. Can develop without warning.
GI bleeding or ulceration: Signs include blood in stool or vomit, black/tarry stools, severe abdominal pain.
GI obstruction: Risk in patients with delayed gastric emptying or intestinal strictures. Call doctor if tablet feels "stuck."
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Potassium citrate/citric acid solution (Cytra-K)
Liquid formulation of potassium citrate with citric acid. Same active mechanism, often more available at pharmacies. Useful for patients who can't swallow tablets. Requires dose adjustment.
Chlorthalidone
Long-acting thiazide-like diuretic. Reduces urinary calcium to prevent calcium stones. AUA-supported alternative for hypercalciuric stone formers who don't tolerate or respond to citrate therapy.
Allopurinol
Xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces uric acid production. AUA-recommended for hyperuricosuric calcium oxalate stone formers and uric acid stone formers with hyperuricemia. Not effective for purely hypocitraturic stones.
Sodium bicarbonate
OTC urinary alkalinizer. Can substitute for potassium citrate in patients at risk for hyperkalemia. Adds significant sodium load — not ideal for hypertensive patients or those on sodium-restricted diets.
Indapamide
Thiazide-like diuretic used in some countries as first-line for stone prevention. May have a more favorable metabolic profile than hydrochlorothiazide for stone prevention.
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Potassium-sparing diuretics (triamterene, spironolactone, amiloride)
majorConcurrent use can produce severe, potentially fatal hyperkalemia. This combination is contraindicated per FDA labeling.
ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril, captopril, benazepril)
moderateDecrease potassium elimination by the kidneys, raising hyperkalemia risk when combined with potassium citrate. Monitor serum potassium closely.
Angiotensin receptor blockers (losartan, valsartan, irbesartan)
moderateSimilar to ACE inhibitors — reduce potassium excretion, increasing hyperkalemia risk. Require close monitoring.
Anticholinergic medications
moderateSlow GI transit, increasing the duration of contact between potassium citrate tablets and GI mucosa, raising the risk of ulceration and bleeding.
Digoxin
majorLowering potassium too rapidly in digitalis patients can cause digitalis toxicity. Requires careful monitoring of potassium during any dose adjustments.
Amphetamines (Adderall, Vyvanse, dextroamphetamine)
moderateUrinary alkalinization decreases amphetamine excretion, increasing blood levels and potentially causing toxicity or enhanced effects.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
minorCan reduce kidney function and impair potassium excretion, increasing hyperkalemia risk when combined with potassium citrate.
Urocit-K XR (potassium citrate extended release) is an effective, FDA-approved medication for preventing recurrent kidney stones and managing renal tubular acidosis. With a generic available since the 1980s, it can be remarkably affordable — as low as $13 per fill with a GoodRx coupon — for most patients. The 10 mEq strength is most widely available, while 5 mEq and 15 mEq tablets may require checking multiple pharmacies.
The most important factors for successful therapy are consistent adherence (taking the medication with food at evenly spaced times daily), adequate hydration (at least 2 liters of water per day), a low-sodium diet, and regular monitoring of serum potassium and 24-hour urine chemistry every four months. Patients should never stop taking Urocit-K XR abruptly without consulting their prescriber.
If you're having trouble filling your Urocit-K XR prescription, medfinder can find which pharmacies near you have it in stock. Simply provide your medication, dosage strength, and zip code, and medfinder contacts local pharmacies to find which ones can fill your prescription — results sent directly to your phone.
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