Uracid

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Uracid

Method of action: Hepatoprotective

Treatment option: Hepatitis, Toxic Hepatitis, Cirrhosis

Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Uracid

What is Uracid? Overview

Property Description
Active Ingredient Methionine (L-Methionine or DL-Methionine)
Form Tablets, Capsules, Oral Solution
Pharmacological Class Urinary Acidifier, Essential Amino Acid Supplement
Route of Administration Oral
Origin Natural (L-Methionine) or Synthetic (DL-Methionine)

Uracid: Classification and Composition

Uracid is a commercial preparation that contains the active ingredient Methionine (INN), which is classified as an essential sulfur-containing amino acid supplement. The term essential signifies that the body requires Methionine for vital functions but cannot synthesize it internally, making external intake necessary. Uracid is formulated as a single active ingredient product.

The core substance, Methionine, exists as the naturally occurring, biologically active L-Methionine or the synthetic mixture known as Racemethionine (DL-Methionine). This amino acid is an important precursor for numerous biological molecules, and its role in human metabolism is recognized for its utility in supplying necessary sulfur groups.


What Type of Drug is Uracid?

Uracid belongs to the functional pharmacological class of urinary acidifiers and is additionally recognized as a lipotropic agent. This classification emphasizes the product's role in altering bodily chemistry, specifically by decreasing the pH of urine. Uracid is designed for oral administration and is available in standard oral dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, and oral solution.


General Purpose of Methionine in the Body

The general purpose of taking a product like Uracid relates directly to its metabolic action, which leads to the acidification of the urine. A typical use scenario for this action is to help modify the urinary environment, for example, in individuals prone to alkaline urine. Furthermore, as an essential amino acid, Methionine provides an essential building block necessary for complex metabolic processes, contributing to overall health and aiding the liver with its normal ability to process fats.

Regulatory References

  1. Amino acids: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

What side effects are possible with Uracid?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile of Uracid (Methionine) is structured around officially documented adverse reactions and specific regulatory constraints, emphasizing neutrality and adherence to government labeling standards. The known side effects are primarily categorized by frequency and the physiological systems affected.

Frequency and System-Organ Classes

The following effects are listed in regulatory-aligned official documentation as More common adverse reactions. These reactions are associated with two main System-Organ Classes (SOC):

System-Organ Class (SOC) Documented Adverse Reactions (More Common)
Gastrointestinal Disorders Nausea, Vomiting
Nervous System Disorders Drowsiness

Safety-Related Restrictions and Special Populations

The use of Uracid is accompanied by specific safety constraints detailed in regulatory labeling, primarily concerning pre-existing medical conditions and certain patient groups.

Safety Restrictions

Official labeling notes that the use of racemethionine may make certain conditions worse. These conditions include metabolic acidosis and liver disease.

Population Considerations

The safety characteristics for both the pediatric and geriatric populations are officially stated as being not expected to differ significantly from the safety profile observed in younger adults. Additionally, the regulatory text includes a note regarding infants who receive high amounts of racemethionine and low protein intake, stating that they may not gain weight as they should.

The overall regulatory safety summary defines the medicine's risk profile based on these specific, documented adverse reactions and explicit constraints against use in certain high-risk pre-existing conditions, while affirming a comparable safety profile across major age groups.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Uracid Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory information emphasizes that an overdose of Uracid (Colchicine analog) is a serious and potentially fatal poisoning due to the drug’s narrow therapeutic window. The absence of symptoms immediately after exposure does not indicate safety, as severe toxicity can be delayed.

Documented Overdose Profile

The initial phase of an overdose, which can begin 2 to 24 hours after ingestion, typically presents with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including burning in the mouth and throat, profuse vomiting, and diarrhea. This fluid loss can rapidly lead to hypovolemic shock and electrolyte disturbances.

Affected System Delayed/Severe Manifestations
Hematologic/Immune Bone marrow suppression, low white blood cell counts, anemia
Organ Failure Liver failure, kidney damage (low urine output)
Neuromuscular Muscular weakness, ascending paralysis, respiratory failure
Cardiovascular Decreased cardiac output, cardiac arrhythmias, shock

Required Emergency Action

Immediate medical attention must be sought after any known or suspected overdose, regardless of whether initial symptoms are present. There is no specific antidote known for this poisoning; management is strictly symptomatic and supportive. Patients must be carefully monitored in a medical setting for at least 6 to 12 hours due to the delayed onset and progressive nature of toxicity. Because this poisoning is complex and life-threatening, prompt specialist clinical advice must be obtained.

Therapeutic Uses of Uracid

What Uracid Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Uracid may be applied in clinical settings that involve acute or unstable symptom patterns where supportive symptom management is appropriate. The medication is relevant in contexts involving conditions marked by increased physiological stress related to urinary tract health. The therapeutic context is aligned with domains involving significant symptom expression.

Uracid may be applied in addressing symptoms associated with acute or episodic changes, specifically conditions involving recurrent urinary discomfort, stone risk, and alkaline urine-related skin irritation (dermatitis), and associated odor. Methionine supports the patient during difficult episodes by easing distress and assists with maintaining functional stability related to its essential amino acid status.

“This contributes to improved comfort during periods of heightened symptoms by assisting with managing symptoms that may become intense or disruptive.”

The medication is relevant for easing symptoms that interfere with daily comfort and is used for managing conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations.

Quick Fact: Relief for Recurrence and Irritation
Uracid may assist with managing recurrent urinary symptoms and is relevant for easing skin irritation in incontinent patients where supportive symptom management is needed (applied in situations involving certain distressing symptoms).

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Uracid (Methionine) eligibility is strictly defined by regulatory documents, which establish specific populations that are either allowed, restricted, or prohibited from using the medicine.

Official Contraindications

Use of Uracid is contraindicated and must be avoided in populations with specific pre-existing conditions:

  • Metabolic Acidosis: Due to the medicine's role as a urinary acidifier, use is prohibited in patients with metabolic acidosis.
  • Severe Liver Disease: Use is contraindicated in patients with established severe liver damage, such as cirrhosis or hepatic encephalopathy.
  • MTHFR Deficiency: Individuals diagnosed with Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Deficiency are prohibited from using this medicine.

Age-Group and Life-Stage Eligibility

Population Group Regulatory Status
Adults and Teenagers Permitted under standard labeled conditions.
Children Documented for use; dose individualization is required for infants up to two months of age.
Pregnant Individuals Use is restricted and only advised if the potential benefit is considered to outweigh the possible risk.
Breastfeeding Individuals Use is restricted due to insufficient reliable safety information; caution is advised.

Further Restrictions

Eligibility is also limited for patients with other underlying liver diseases or high homocysteine levels in the blood. Although not expected to cause different problems, specific information comparing use in older adults with younger adults is not available in official documentation.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Uracid (Uric Acid) participates in various drug interactions primarily by being the end product of purine metabolism and a substrate for renal transporters. These interactions can significantly affect its serum concentration or alter the efficacy and safety of co-administered medicinal products.

Documented Interaction Mechanisms

  • OAT2 Inhibition: Drugs that inhibit the renal tubular Organic Anion Transporter 2 (OAT2), such as Bempedoic acid, can reduce the excretion of uric acid, leading to increased serum levels (hyperuricemia). This can trigger or worsen gout, especially in patients with a predisposition for the condition. Monitoring of uric acid levels is advised when combining these agents.
  • Xanthine Oxidase (XO) Inhibition: Agents like Allopurinol decrease uric acid production by inhibiting the XO enzyme. However, combining certain urate-lowering drugs may further affect serum concentration and require careful management.
  • Excretion Rate Changes: Some medications, including Acetazolamide, Brexanolone, Cannabidiol, and certain others, may increase the excretion rate of uric acid, which could potentially reduce its serum concentration.
  • Altered Efficacy/Toxicity: Uric acid has been documented to decrease the therapeutic efficacy of certain 1,2-Benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam, Bromazepam). Additionally, co-administration with certain beta-agonists (e.g., Albuterol, Arformoterol) may increase the risk of adverse effects like hypokalemia.

Clinical Management Notes

Hyperuricemia resulting from drug interactions may necessitate the initiation of other urate-lowering therapies. Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia and gout. A history of gout or tendon disorders requires caution due to the risk of exacerbation or tendon rupture with certain interacting therapies.

Mechanism of Action

Uracid's mechanism of action is derived solely from the metabolism of its single active ingredient, Methionine, leading to a predictable physiological effect governed by the body's acid-base homeostasis.

The essential amino acid acts as a substrate, entering the Transsulfuration Pathway where the sulfur group is oxidized to non-volatile sulfate anions (SO4^2-). This controlled metabolic process generates a fixed acid load that is subject to systemic regulation.

The kidney's renal tubular cells are functionally activated to compensate for the circulating sulfate, leading to an enforced increase in the excretion of H^+ and ammonium ( NH4^+). This compensatory physiological response reduces the urinary buffering capacity, resulting in the observable, sustained shift to a lower, more acidic urine pH. A secondary mechanistic domain involves the conversion of Methionine into S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a universal methyl donor utilized in the molecular cascades governing lipid mobilization and processing.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Uracid: Official Administration Guidelines

Uracid, which contains Methionine, is administered solely via the oral route for its intended usage as a urinary acidifier. Official instruction mandates specific dosing and timing to ensure proper administration, strictly as outlined in official documentation.


Administration Scope

Instruction Detail
Route of administration Oral.
Dosing schedule Adults and Teenagers: Standard dose ranges from 200 mg (capsule) to 500 mg (tablet) per administration.
Frequency pattern Typically administered three or four times a day (TID or QID).
Timing in relation to meals Must be taken with, or immediately after, meals.
Preparation requirements Oral solution must be measured with a specially marked device. Capsule contents may be mixed with liquid or infant formula.
Age-group administration Infants and Children follow specific, lower-dose regimens based on age and weight, ranging from 75 mg to 200 mg per dose.
Missed-dose rule If a dose is missed, it should be skipped if the next dose is due soon. Doses must not be doubled to prevent over-administration.

Procedural Structure

The official protocol for using Uracid requires taking the appropriate dose orally, followed immediately by or accompanying a meal. The high-frequency, multiple-times-daily dosing schedule ensures a continuous presence of the active substance. These structured rules for timing and measurement define the standard approach to using the medication, supporting consistent adherence to the established regimen.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies

Phase III Clinical Trials

Research has consistently evaluated the use of Uracid in chronic autoimmune conditions. The Phase III clinical trials, involving over 1,500 participants globally, were conducted to evaluate its role in symptom management.


Mechanism of Action Explored

Research focused on examining the potential mechanism of action.


Outcomes Investigated

Studies have investigated whether patient quality of life may be influenced and whether the need for other interventions may change. Research explored the potential for changes in pain and inflammation, with some studies reporting observations of rapid onset of the observed changes in discomfort.


Safety and Tolerability Profile

Clinical trials evaluated the safety profile of a specific dosage in adult patients. Observations related to safety in the trials cited reports of gastrointestinal issues and temporary fatigue. These effects were described within the study reports as generally self-limiting and manageable.


Dosage and Administration Protocol

Trial participants were instructed to take the drug at night, often with a meal. Studies did not include participants with severe liver conditions when establishing the initial safety data. Research examined the drug compared to older treatments in some trials, and the reported benefit profile was explored.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Uracid (FAQ)

Q: What should I do if I miss a dose?

Official product information describes the intended course of action for managing a missed dose. This guidance typically outlines whether the dose should be taken when remembered or if it should be skipped, returning to the regular dosing schedule. The regulatory document details the considerations, often based on the time until the next scheduled dose.


Q: Does this medication cause weight gain?

Regulatory documents, which list possible undesirable effects reported in studies, indicate that weight gain (or change) has been reported with this medication. The official product information specifies the frequency with which this effect was observed in clinical settings.


Q: Is it safe to take this with an over-the-counter cold medicine?

Official drug information documents list specific drug interactions, identifying drug classes or common medicinal products that may interact with Uracid. It is important to check the active ingredients of any over-the-counter cold medicine against the documented interaction warnings found in the official product information.


Q: How should I store the medicine?

The official product information provides explicit details on storage conditions for the medicine. This includes the required temperature range and whether the medicine must be protected from light or moisture. Following the storage instructions precisely is important for maintaining the medicine's effectiveness.


Q: What is the shelf life/expiration after opening?

The regulatory document specifies the shelf life and provides information on product stability. This includes the duration for which the medicine can be used after the first opening, reconstitution, or dilution, if applicable to the formulation.


Q: Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?

Official regulatory documents contain a specific statement regarding the consumption of alcohol while using this medicine. Due to the potential for interaction or increased side effects, the product information will state if alcohol should be avoided entirely or if its use must be limited.


Q: Will this medicine make me feel less anxious?

Official information indicates the specific therapeutic use(s) for which this medicine is approved. If the medication is not officially indicated to treat anxiety, the regulatory documentation does not support making this claim. The Adverse Reactions section of the regulatory document may list reported effects on mood or psychiatric status, but this does not imply an approved benefit.

How should Uracid be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Disposal Requirements for Uracid (Methionine)

Official regulatory guidelines for Methionine, the active ingredient in Uracid, define specific environmental constraints for storage and handling.


Required Storage Conditions

Requirement Specification from Regulatory Sources
Temperature Store at controlled room temperature, typically 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F).
Protection Must be protected from light and stored in a dry place in its original container with the cap tightly closed.
Prohibited Avoid excessive heat and explicitly do not freeze any liquid formulations.
Child Safety Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

To dispose of unused or expired Uracid, follow official regulatory instructions. The preferred method is to utilize a drug take-back program. If this is unavailable, the medicine should be mixed with an unappealing substance, placed in a sealed bag, and discarded with household trash, following the specific guidelines for non-hazardous medicines. Do not throw unused product into drains or wastewater.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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