K-Phos
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).
What is K-Phos (potassium phosphate)?
What is K-Phos (potassium phosphate) used for?
- Lowering urinary pH
How K-Phos (potassium phosphate) works
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.
Drug facts
Side effects of K-Phos (potassium phosphate)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
Less Common Side Effects
- Bone and joint pain
- Dizziness
- Muscle cramps
- Tingling, pain, or weakness in hands or feet
The following K-Phos (potassium phosphate) side effects have also been reported
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.
Get your GoodRx coupon
Pros and cons of K-Phos (potassium phosphate)
Pros
- 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
Cons
- 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
Pharmacist tips for K-Phos (potassium phosphate)
- 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).
Common questions about K-Phos (potassium phosphate)
You shouldn't take K-Phos (potassium phosphate) if your kidneys are severely damaged. Severely damaged kidneys don't work as well to get rid of potassium. Since K-Phos (potassium phosphate) contains potassium, taking this medication if you have severe kidney disease can raise your risk of potassium buildup in your body. High potassium levels can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea, and more seriously, an irregular heartbeat. If you have kidney problems, talk to your provider before taking this medication to see if it's safe for you.
Let the tablets fully dissolve in water before taking, instead of crushing or chewing them. If there are small particles left in the solution after soaking the tablets in water, then you can crush the remaining particles to help them dissolve completely.
No, K-Phos (potassium phosphate) doesn't contain sodium. This is helpful for people who are limiting their sodium intake to help with high blood pressure or heart problems.
Yes, you can get too much potassium or phosphorus in your blood, which can lead to problems. Too much potassium (hyperkalemia) can cause problems with your heart. And too much phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia) can lead to low calcium levels, which can cause problems with your bones. Your provider should check your potassium and phosphorus levels periodically during treatment with K-Phos (potassium phosphate) to make sure your electrolyte levels are within the normal range.
How to save using GoodRx
Risks and warnings for 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.
Passing of old kidney stones
- 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).
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg | 60 tablets | $39.72 | $0.66 |
Typical dosage for K-Phos (potassium phosphate)
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).
Interactions between K-Phos (potassium phosphate) and other drugs
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.
- Bepridil
- Burosumab-twza
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Mesoridazine
- Pimozide
- Piperaquine
- Saquinavir
- Sparfloxacin
- Terfenadine
- Thioridazine
- Ziprasidone
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.
- Alfuzosin
- Amiloride
- Amiodarone
- Amisulpride
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Anagrelide
- Apomorphine
- Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole Lauroxil
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Asenapine
- Astemizole
- Azilsartan
- Azilsartan Medoxomil
- Azithromycin
- Bedaquiline
- Buprenorphine
- Buserelin
- Candesartan
- Canrenoate
- Canrenone
- Ceritinib
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpromazine
- Cilazapril
- Ciprofloxacin
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Clofazimine
- Clomipramine
- Clozapine
- Crizotinib
- Cyclosporine
- Dabrafenib
- Dasatinib
- Degarelix
- Delamanid
- Desipramine
- Deslorelin
- Deutetrabenazine
- Digoxin
- Disopyramide
- Dofetilide
- Dolasetron
- Domperidone
- Donepezil
- Droperidol
- Efavirenz
- Enalapril
- Enalaprilat
- Encorafenib
- Entrectinib
- Eplerenone
- Eprosartan
- Erdafitinib
- Erythromycin
- Escitalopram
- Fingolimod
- Flecainide
- Fluconazole
- Fluoxetine
- Formoterol
- Foscarnet
- Fosinopril
- Fostemsavir
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Glasdegib
- Gonadorelin
- Goserelin
- Granisetron
- Halofantrine
- Haloperidol
- Histrelin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxyzine
- Ibutilide
- Iloperidone
- Imipramine
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Irbesartan
- Ivabradine
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoconazole
- Lapatinib
- Lefamulin
- Lenvatinib
- Levofloxacin
- Lisinopril
- Lofexidine
- Lopinavir
- Losartan
- Lumefantrine
- Macimorelin
- Mefloquine
- Methadone
- Metronidazole
- Mifepristone
- Mirtazapine
- Moexipril
- Moxifloxacin
- Nafarelin
- Nilotinib
- Norfloxacin
- Nortriptyline
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Olmesartan
- Ondansetron
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Ozanimod
- Paliperidone
- Panobinostat
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Perindopril
- Pimavanserin
- Pitolisant
- Ponesimod
- Posaconazole
- Procainamide
- Prochlorperazine
- Promethazine
- Propafenone
- Protriptyline
- Quetiapine
- Quinapril
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Ramipril
- Ranolazine
- Ribociclib
- Selpercatinib
- Sertraline
- Sevoflurane
- Siponimod
- Solifenacin
- Sorafenib
- Sotalol
- Spirapril
- Spironolactone
- Sulpiride
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Telmisartan
- Tetrabenazine
- Trandolapril
- Trazodone
- Triamterene
- Triclabendazole
- Trimipramine
- Triptorelin
- Valsartan
- Vandetanib
- Vardenafil
- Vemurafenib
- Vinflunine
- Voclosporin
- Voriconazole
- Zofenopril
- Zuclopenthixol
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.
- Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Phosphate
- Calcium Acetate
- Calcium Carbonate
- Calcium Citrate
- Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
- Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
- Magaldrate
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Magnesium Oxide
- Magnesium Trisilicate
How much does K-Phos (potassium phosphate) cost?
$39.72
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because K-Phos (potassium phosphate) will not be safe for you to take.
- Infected phosphate stones
- Severely damaged kidneys
- High blood phosphate or potassium levels
What are alternatives to K-Phos (potassium phosphate)?
K-Phos (potassium phosphate) images
