K-Phos (potassium phosphate) is a medication used for people with high urinary pH. It makes the urine more acidic. This is helpful for preventing kidney stones, as well as preventing odor and rash caused by urine that contains too much ammonia. It can also help some antibiotics work better for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Lowering urinary pH
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) is a urine acidifier. This means it makes the urine more acidic, or lowers the urinary pH. If your urine's pH is too high, it can cause calcium to build up, which can lead to [kidney stones]. High urinary pH can also cause your urine to have a strong odor or cause a rash.
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) can also help antibiotics like methenamine hippurate (Hiprex) work better to treat UTIs. This is because the antibiotic works best if the urine is acidic.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Bone pain
convulsions
decreased urine output
dizziness
fast or irregular heartbeat
headache
joint pain
mental confusion
muscle cramps
numbness or tingling around the lips
numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of the hands or feet
shortness of breath
swelling of the feet or lower legs
troubled breathing
unusual thirst
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusual weight gain
weakness or heaviness of the legs
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Lowers urine pH without raising your sodium intake
Can help lower risk of kidney stones
Can help some UTI antibiotics work better
Must be dissolved in water first, so a good option for people who have trouble swallowing
Typically taken 4 times a day
Can cause diarrhea and stomach upset
Can interact with antacids
Can't be used in people with severe kidney problems
Be sure to use 6 to 8 ounces of water to dissolve K-Phos (potassium phosphate) completely before taking it. This can take around 2 to 5 minutes. If any particles remain, crush them and stir the mixture well. If the tablets aren't dissolved properly, it can raise your risk of having digestive problems.
Don't take K-Phos (potassium phosphate) with antacids containing calcium, aluminum, or magnesium. These antacids can attach to phosphate, preventing K-Phos (potassium phosphate) from being absorbed. This means you might not get the full benefit of taking K-Phos (potassium phosphate).
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) can cause diarrhea during the first few days of treatment. If the diarrhea becomes bothersome, you can lower your daily dosage until it goes away. But if it doesn't, you might need to stop taking the medication. Talk to your provider about any side effects you experience.
Since K-Phos (potassium phosphate) can affect your electrolyte levels, your provider might want to do blood tests to check your kidneys and calcium, phosphorus, and potassium levels during treatment with K-Phos (potassium phosphate). If you take other potassium-containing medications or potassium-sparing diuretics with K-Phos (potassium phosphate), you're at higher risk for having high potassium levels. Talk to your provider if you have nausea, irregular heartbeat, or muscle weakness while taking K-Phos (potassium phosphate).
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: History of kidney stones
Starting treatment with K-Phos (potassium phosphate) might cause you to pass old kidney stones through your urine. Small kidney stones will pass more easily, causing little to no pain. Call your provider if you think you may be passing old kidney stones, or if you experience severe pain, fever, or blood in the urine (signs that you're trying to pass a larger kidney stone).
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
500mg | 60 tablets | $37.85 | $0.63 |
The typical dose is 1 gram dissolved in 6 to 8 ounces of water, taken by mouth 4 times daily (with meals and at bedtime).
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this dietary supplement, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this dietary supplement or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Infected phosphate stones
Severely damaged kidneys
High blood phosphate or potassium levels
Lowering urinary pH (e.g., K-PHOS® No. 2)
Raising phosphate and pyrophosphate levels in the urine (e.g., K-PHOS Neutral, Phospha 250 Neutral)
Phosphorus supplement
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