Potrate 1080 is a prescription treatment for a kidney stone condition called renal tubular acidosis. Renal tubular acidosis occurs when the kidneys do not eliminate acid from the blood into the urine as they should. This causes the acid level in your blood to become too high, a condition called acidosis. The acid in the blood to a certain level is normal, but an excessive amount can affect bodily functions.  

Patients are advised to take each dose without crushing, chewing, or sucking the tablet. Patients should take medicine only as directed. This is especially important if the patient also takes digitalis preparations and diuretics. Treatment with extended-release potassium citrate should be added to a regimen that limits salt intake (avoidance of foods with high salt content) and encourages high fluid intake. The objective of treatment with Potrate 1080 is to provide potassium citrate sufficient dosage to restore normal uric acid level in urine and to increase urinary pH to a level of 6.0 or 7.0. 

   — Potrate 1080 is contraindicated in patients with hyperkalemia and may produce cardiac arrest. It should also be avoided in patients with peptic ulcer disease and active urinary tract infections.

   — Concomitant use of potassium citrate and a potassium-sparing diuretic such as amiloride, spironolactone, and triamterene should be avoided since the simultaneous administration of these agents can produce severe hyperkalemia (abnormally high levels of potassium in the bloodstream).   

   — It is not known whether potrate 1080 mg can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. This medicine should be taken by pregnant only if the doctor advises.

   — Caution should be exercised when potassium citrate is administered to a nursing woman. The safety and effectiveness of children have not been established in such women. Patients should check with their doctor if there is difficulty swallowing the tablet or if the pill seems to stick in the throat.  

   — The safety and effectiveness of potassium citrate tablets in children have not been established.

Some patients may develop minor gastrointestinal effects while receiving potassium citrates, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, loss of bowel movements, and abdominal discomfort. These symptoms usually develop due to gastrointestinal tract irritation and may be resolved by taking medicine with meals or snacks or reducing the dosage.