Уралит-У

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Уралит-У

Treatment option: Cystinuria

Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

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 Уралит-У

Property Description
Active ingredient Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate
Form Granules for oral solution
Pharmacological class Alkalizing agent
General purpose Calculus solubility and prevention
Origin Synthetic/Derived combination

Уралит-У: Definition and Pharmacological Classification

Уралит-У (Uralyt-U) is a specific brand of combination medicine classified as an alkalizing agent, utilized in the management and prevention of certain types of urinary calculus, or stones. The drug’s core mechanism is its ability to induce and maintain a controlled urinary pH elevation, directly affecting the chemical environment within the urinary tract. The active ingredient, Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate, serves as a Metabolic Alkalinizer and a Calculi Dissolution Agent. This classification describes the medicine's role in chemically neutralizing excess acidity in the urine.

Composition and Pharmaceutical Form Differentiation

The medication's foundation is the active substance, Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate, a meticulously formulated, synthetic/derived combination. A distinguishing feature of Уралит-У is its specialized delivery format: granules for oral solution. This form is designed to be dissolved in an aqueous vehicle for smooth, consistent consumption via the oral route of administration. The complex salt structure is effective for controlling the pH level in the body, ensuring appropriate systemic delivery of the necessary components for subsequent urinary alkalization.

General Therapeutic Role in Calculus Management

The overarching general purpose of this citrate-based agent is to promote conditions in the urine that are chemically unfavorable for the formation and existence of calculi. By raising the pH level, the drug significantly enhances the solubility of stones, such as uric acid calculi, offering a key therapeutic benefit. Furthermore, the excretion of the citrate ions acts as a natural inhibitor, forming stable complexes with calcium ions to resist crystallization, thereby providing essential support in the prophylactic management of nephrolithiasis.

What side effects are possible with Уралит-У?

Possible Side Effects

Like all medications, Uralit-U (Potassium Sodium Hydrogen Citrate) may cause side effects, though not everyone experiences them. Most side effects are gastrointestinal in nature and are typically mild.


Common Side Effects

  • Gastrointestinal: Abdominal discomfort or mild pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or loose stools.

These effects can often be minimized by ensuring the granules are sufficiently diluted in water and by taking the medication with or after a meal.


Serious Side Effects (Require Immediate Medical Attention)

Although rare, some side effects are serious. Stop treatment and seek emergency medical help if you experience any of the following:

  • Signs of Hyperkalemia (High Potassium Levels): Unusual muscle weakness or paralysis, tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or lips, severe fatigue, confusion, chest pain, or an irregular/slow heartbeat. The risk is higher in patients with existing kidney issues or those taking certain interacting medications.
  • Gastrointestinal Lesions: Severe or persistent stomach pain, severe vomiting, or signs of bleeding such as black, tarry stools or vomiting blood/material resembling coffee grounds. These symptoms may indicate an ulcer, bowel perforation, or obstruction.
  • Allergic Reaction: Symptoms like rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.

Contraindications and Warnings

Uralit-U is contraindicated (should not be used) in patients with conditions that impair potassium excretion, as this greatly increases the risk of dangerous hyperkalemia. These conditions include severe renal failure, untreated Addison's disease, acute dehydration, and heart failure. It should also be avoided in cases of active urinary tract infection (UTI), peptic ulcers, or a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with hereditary episodic adynamia (a form of periodic paralysis) should not use this medication. Monitoring of serum electrolytes and urine pH is required throughout the treatment period.

Overdose and Emergency Response

The regulatory overdose profile for Уралит-У focuses strictly on severe electrolyte and metabolic disturbances. Overdosage may present with Hyperkalemia, defined as a potassium-plasma level exceeding 5 mmol/l, and the establishment of a marked alkalotic metabolic state. These are the primary documented manifestations in official labeling.

Patients must seek immediate medical attention when manifestations of severe electrolyte imbalance or metabolic alkalosis are suspected. The risk of life-threatening outcomes, such as cardiac arrest, is associated with uncorrected hyperkalemia, particularly in individuals with impaired potassium excretion. Maintaining an excessively high urinary pH for several days also carries an increased risk of phosphate crystallization, which is a severe metabolic outcome.

The official documentation specifies that management is generally symptomatic and supportive. This includes monitoring the patient's acid-base status and serum potassium level, and considering measures for the treatment of metabolic alkalosis. For inadvertent overdosage, the initial procedure is the reduction of the administered dose. Regulatory information notes that no specific antidote is known for this agent. An increased likelihood of severe complications exists for patients with simultaneous acidosis or underlying renal failure.

Therapeutic Uses of Уралит-У

What Уралит-У Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Уралит-У is utilized to help manage and prevent uric acid and kidney stones. Its primary role is to address conditions characterized by chronic stone formation, including the active dissolution of uric acid calculi and the prophylaxis of new stone recurrence for uric acid, calcium, and mixed stone types. It is also applied to address critical metabolic risk factors such as persistently acidic urine, hypocitraturia, and to provide supportive care during cytostatic therapy.

“The effort to maintain stable urinary chemistry provides support for patients prone to stone formation.”

This supportive treatment helps ease the overall symptom burden and may assist with managing the risk of recurrent episodes.


Quick Fact: Assistance in Managing Chronic Stone Formation Risk This agent is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed to help manage the risk of recurrent episodes associated with metabolically-driven stone disease, helping maintain functional stability.

Regulatory References

  1. Label: TRICITRATES SF Oral Solution

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The eligibility for Уралит-У is strictly defined by regulatory authorities and is based primarily on the patient's renal function and metabolic profile. The medicine is classified as contraindicated in specific groups due to the inherent risks associated with potassium load and systemic alkalosis.

Category Population Eligibility Status
Absolute Contraindications Acute or chronic renal failure, impaired renal excretory function, metabolic alkalosis, hyperkalemia, Adynamia episodica hereditaria, and chronic urinary tract infections involving urea-splitting bacteria. Use is also prohibited for patients on a strict low-sodium diet or those with hypersensitivity to the ingredients.
Pediatric Use Not recommended for children under 12 years of age due to insufficient documented clinical experience in this population.
Pregnancy and Lactation May be used under specified recommendations, as the active substance consists of physiologically occurring components. However, official labeling notes that adequate clinical data on use in pregnant women are unavailable.
Conditional Use Patients with severe impairment of liver function require caution. Use must be discontinued if urine pH consistently rises above 7.0 or 7.4 to prevent phosphate stone formation.

Official regulatory documents define non-eligibility by confirming that compromised renal function or pre-existing high systemic alkalinity (metabolic alkalosis) prevents the safe processing of the medicine's components.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

The interaction profile for Уралит-У (Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate) is characterized by documented pharmacodynamic effects related to its potassium content and administrative requirements for specific co-administered substances, as outlined in official regulatory documents.

Interaction Type Interacting Agents Documented Outcome / Constraint
Potassium-Related Effects Potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., Spironolactone), ACE Inhibitors, NSAIDs, and ARBs Co-administration reduces renal potassium excretion, posing a risk of hyperkalemia (elevated serum potassium) and requires close monitoring.
Effects on Heart Medicine Cardiac Glycosides (e.g., Digoxin) Officially documented increased extracellular potassium concentration will weaken the effect of these medicines.
Absorption Timing Rule Aluminum-containing products (e.g., certain antacids) The citrate component can lead to increased aluminum absorption. A mandatory interval of at least 2 hours must be allowed between taking each kind of product.
Dietary Consideration Low Sodium Diet The product's sodium content (4.4 mmol per 1.0 g of active substance) must be formally considered when prescribing a low sodium diet to patients.

The regulatory information highlights that the risks associated with potassium-retaining interactions are heightened in populations with impaired renal function and should be considered in elderly patients. This structure provides explicit constraints for managing specific co-administration scenarios.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of Уралит-У involves the systemic modulation of acid-base balance, leading to changes in the physical-chemical environment of the urinary tract. The action centers on three key mechanistic domains that influence the crystallization kinetics of specific urinary solutes.

Urinary pH Modulation via Metabolic Alkalinization

This domain covers the core biochemical pathway: the citrate component of the drug is metabolized, leading to the generation of bicarbonate ( HCO3^-) ions. This increase in the body's buffer capacity directly elevates the pH of the urine, a physicochemical adjustment that precedes downstream mechanistic events.

Enhanced Solubility and Crystallization Inhibition

The increased urinary pH shifts the balance of uric acid from its insoluble state to the soluble urate ion. This mechanism is defined by its action on the saturation point of crystalloids, promoting the transition of insoluble uric acid to the soluble urate ion, thereby influencing crystallization kinetics for uric acid and cystine.

Increased Urinary Citrate and Chelation

This pathway involves the drug-induced increase in citrate excretion in the urine. The citrate functions as an inhibitor by forming soluble complexes with free calcium ions ( Ca^2+). This chelation mechanism reduces the concentration of free Ca^2+, which decreases the supersaturation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Уралит-У

Уралит-У (Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate) is administered as granules for oral solution and requires adherence to a monitored, titration-based dosing schedule.

Administration and Dosage Principles

The granules must be dissolved completely in a glass of water or fruit juice and consumed immediately. Doses are taken after meals.

Feature Description
Standard Daily Dose Typically 4 measuring spoonfuls (10 g granules) for uric acid dissolution, divided into three doses.
Dose Division Pattern Often structured as: 1 spoonful in the morning, 1 at midday, and 2 in the evening.
Dose Titration The exact dose for each intake is adjusted based on the pH of freshly voided urine.
Maximum Daily Dose The maximum recommended daily intake is 4.5 measuring spoonfuls (11.25 g granules).
Age Restriction The medicine is not recommended for children under 12 years due to limited clinical experience in this age group.

Procedural Monitoring

A central component of administration is the use of indicator paper to measure urine pH immediately before each dose, which guides the necessary adjustments. For uric acid management, the dose is adjusted to maintain the urine pH within the target range of pH 6.2 - 6.8. If a dose is missed, standard practice is to continue with the scheduled dose at the next time point without altering the amount (e.g., doubling the next dose). The overall duration of use is determined by the treating clinician and may continue for a period of months following stone dissolution.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of studies for Уралит-У


Evidence for Dissolving Uric Acid Stones

Research has explored the use of Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate (the active substance in Уралит-У) in adults with confirmed uric acid stones. Studies conducted to examine stone dissolution have often used designs such as open-label trials and non-randomized protocols. These studies primarily monitored objective outcomes related to systemic or functional imbalance, such as the achievement of a specific target urinary pH range and how that pH change related to stone size. The studies also examined outcomes related to complete stone clearance, which was verified using medical imaging.

Research protocols reported that when the target urinary pH range was maintained, the measured outcomes included data on stone volume reduction and data on complete stone clearance. Studies focused on the pharmacological effect reported that the agent facilitated the elevation of urinary pH into the planned therapeutic range, based on measurements taken during the study period. The evidence describing the study landscape includes limited long-term randomized controlled trials comparing this specific agent against an inert control (placebo) for stone dissolution outcomes.


Evidence for Preventing Recurrence of Kidney Stones

The agent was evaluated in studies exploring the prevention of stone recurrence (metaphylaxis) in individuals who have a history of forming kidney stones, including uric acid, calcium oxalate, and mixed stone types. The research base includes long-term prospective clinical trials and observational cohort studies that have monitored the frequency of new stone formation over periods of up to several years. The main outcomes reflecting daily functioning or activity level tracked were the rate of new stone formation and biomarkers like urinary citrate levels.

Research on the overall class of citrate-based alkali therapy, which includes the active substance in Уралит-У, data show patterns related to recurrence outcomes in long follow-up periods. Studies reported how symptoms evolved in the observed populations and consistently documented that the agent increased the excretion of citrate ions into the urine. Studies observed that this increase in urinary citrate was associated with conditions less favorable for crystallization.


Research Gaps and Areas of Uncertainty

Certainty remains low for long-term data specific to this exact combination, as the broad conclusions are often drawn from the wider evidence base on related citrate salts. Evidence quality varies across studies, with many relying on non-blinded or open-label designs, particularly for measuring stone clearance. Furthermore, while the agent's effect on urinary pH is consistently reported in studies, the comparative evidence is lacking for this specific combination against other available stone prevention therapies in certain long-term contexts.

Key Studies & References

  1. Label: POTASSIUM CITRATE tablet, extended release (DailyMed/FDA regulatory information for active substance class)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Уралит-У (FAQ)

Q: Is Уралит-У used just for kidney stones, or for other things too?

According to the official product information, this medicine is indicated specifically for the management and prevention of certain types of urinary stones (calculi).

Its primary use is for the dissolution of uric acid stones and for the prevention (metaphylaxis) of new uric acid, calcium oxalate, and mixed stone recurrences.

Q: Does Уралит-У work on all types of kidney stones?

The medicine is officially indicated for the dissolution of uric acid stones, and regulatory documents support its use for the prevention of new uric acid, calcium oxalate, and mixed stone formations.

The labeling indicates its use is specific to these stone types.

Q: Is it normal to feel a change in taste when taking this medication?

Taste disturbances, known medically as dysgeusia, are documented in the regulatory safety information as a potential side effect of the medicine.

Concerns about this or any other symptom should be addressed with a healthcare provider.

Q: Are there any long-term side effects associated with Уралит-У use?

The official product safety profile documents potential side effects, including common mild gastrointestinal issues and rare but serious risks like hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) and gastrointestinal lesions.

The consideration of these risks is relevant throughout the treatment duration, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions such as kidney issues.

Q: Does Уралит-У affect how other medications are absorbed?

Regulatory documents indicate that the citrate component of the medicine can increase the absorption of aluminum from certain aluminum-containing products, such as some antacids.

Regulatory guidance requires a separation of at least two hours between taking these products.

Q: Is there scientific proof or research showing that Уралит-У is effective?

Yes, official product information confirms that studies support the medicine’s effectiveness in achieving its primary goals.

This includes the ability to consistently elevate the urine pH into the therapeutic range, which is associated with stone volume reduction and clearance in uric acid stone management.

Q: Where can I find clinical trials or studies about Уралит-У?

The clinical trials and studies used to support the authorization of the drug are referenced in the regulatory documents.

These documents, such as the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), are often available on the websites of the relevant government regulatory agencies that approved the medicine.

Q: Why do doctors often prescribe Уралит-У after lithotripsy (shock wave therapy)?

The medicine is officially indicated for the prevention of stone recurrence, also known as metaphylaxis.

Preventing new stone formation is a required follow-up step often used following stone removal procedures like lithotripsy.

Q: Can Уралит-У be used to prevent new stones from forming?

Yes, regulatory documents list the prevention (metaphylaxis) of recurring stones as one of the medicine’s official indications.

This includes preventing the formation of new uric acid, calcium oxalate, and mixed stone types.

Q: Is it necessary to drink extra water when using Уралит-У?

The granules must be dissolved completely in a full glass of water or fruit juice before consumption, as part of the administration instructions.

This step is part of the required administration method.

Q: Can Уралит-У cause dry mouth or increased thirst?

Dry mouth and increased thirst are not typically listed as common side effects. However, symptoms related to potentially serious side effects, such as hyperkalemia, may involve severe fatigue or confusion.

Any unusual or concerning physical symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Q: What are the signs that Уралит-У might be starting to work?

The clearest objective sign that the medicine is working as intended is achieving and maintaining the target urine pH range.

Official instructions require the use of indicator paper to measure pH before each dose, confirming the treatment goal is being met.

Q: Is it safe to drive or operate machinery while taking Уралит-У?

Regulatory information addresses the medicine's potential effect on the ability to drive and use machines.

The labeling does not typically list specific impairments to driving ability. Decisions regarding driving should consider the patient's individual condition and any side effects experienced.

Q: Does Уралит-У interact with alcohol?

While regulatory documents focus primarily on drug-drug and specific food interactions, a direct interaction with alcohol is typically not noted.

However, alcohol consumption may increase the risk or severity of common gastrointestinal side effects associated with the medication.

Q: Can I stop taking Уралит-У once my symptoms improve?

The overall duration of use for this medicine is determined by a treating clinician and can continue for months, even after stone dissolution is achieved.

Treatment duration is determined by the clinician. Changes to the regimen are made in consultation with a healthcare provider.

Q: Does taking Уралит-У require specific changes to my diet?

Patients on a strict low-sodium diet must have the medicine’s sodium content formally accounted for in their daily intake.

Additionally, all doses are instructed to be taken immediately after meals.

Q: Why is potassium important in the composition of Уралит-У?

The medicine is a combination of potassium, sodium, and hydrogen citrate.

Potassium is an integral component, with its citrate form playing a key role in the overall mechanism of action to alkalize the urine and help prevent stone formation.

Q: Does Уралит-У contain any sodium or sugar?

Yes, the product contains sodium, and its contribution must be considered for patients who are adhering to a strict low-sodium diet.

Regulatory information also lists all excipients (inactive ingredients), which includes details on any sugars or other components present in the granules.

Q: Are there any specific blood tests required before starting Уралит-У?

Yes, official guidelines require that both urine pH and serum electrolytes (which require blood testing) be monitored throughout the treatment period.

This monitoring is essential for safety, particularly to check for the risk of hyperkalemia (high potassium levels).

Q: Is Уралит-У used for urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

No, Уралит-У is not indicated for treating urinary tract infections.

In fact, the medicine is contraindicated and should not be used in cases where there is an active UTI involving urea-splitting bacteria.

Q: Can elderly patients use Уралит-У without special precautions?

Caution is specifically advised when this medicine is used in elderly patients.

This is due to the potential for reduced kidney function in older adults and the associated heightened risk of complications, such as hyperkalemia (high potassium).

Q: Does taking Уралит-У affect fertility in men or women?

Official information regarding fertility is included in the regulatory documents.

It notes that the active substance is comprised of components that occur naturally within the body (physiologically occurring). Specific clinical data on the effect on fertility is typically reviewed in this section.

How should Уралит-У be stored and disposed of?

The official storage and disposal requirements for Уралит-У (Potassium-sodium-hydrogen Citrate granules) are strictly defined in regulatory documents to ensure product stability and safety.

Storage Requirements

Constraint Official Requirement
Temperature Store at a temperature not exceeding 25 C; do not store above 30 C.
Protection Keep in a dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.
Container Keep the container tightly closed and store in the original package.
Child Safety Must be kept out of the sight and reach of children.

Stability and Disposal

The product should not be used after the expiration date. If the package is opened, the in-use stability period is 6 months from the opening date. Any unused or expired product must be discarded and disposed of according to local and federal regulations for medicinal waste.

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

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