Lithostat
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) helps people with certain urinary tract infections (UTIs). It's a urease inhibitor that lowers the ammonia levels in the urine. This can help antibiotics work better to clear up the infection. It can also help keep kidney stones from forming if surgery or other options aren't possible. Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) comes as a tablet you take by mouth a few times a day on an empty stomach. This medication isn’t used often, so not all of the side effects are known. But some can include headache and stomach upset.
What is Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)?
What is Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) used for?
- Lowering ammonia levels in the urine to help antibiotics for UTI work better and to keep kidney stones from forming
How Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) works
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) is a urease inhibitor. It blocks a protein called urease that's made by some bacteria. This stops ammonia from forming in the urine.
By lowering the amount of ammonia in the urine, the medication makes the urine more acidic. This can help antibiotics work better to treat the UTI. It also prevents kidney stones from forming.
Drug facts
Side effects of Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)
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
- Mild headaches (30%)
- Nausea (20–25%)
- Vomiting (20–25%)
- Loss of appetite (20–25%)
- Not feeling well (20–25%)
- Shakiness (20%)
- Nervousness (20%)
- Depression (20%)
- Anxiety (20%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Stomach upset
- Rash
- Hair loss
- Inflamed veins
- Racing heart
- Changes to your red blood cells
The following Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Low red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Anxiety, nervousness
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Tremors or shaking
- Upset stomach
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Pros and cons of Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)
Pros
- Might help antibiotics work better to treat UTIs
- Can be a good option if you can't have surgery to remove your kidney stones
Cons
- Not commonly used anymore
- Can interact with iron supplements
- Not for people with severe kidney problems or people who are pregnant
Pharmacist tips for Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)
- Take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Taking it with food, especially foods with iron, can make your body absorb less of the medication.
- Don't take more than 1,500 mg (6 tablets) of Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) in one day. Taking too much can put you at risk of side effects like low blood cell count, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and shakiness. If you have kidney problems, your maximum dosage might be lower.
- You might get mild headaches after you start taking Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid). Usually, they happen during the first 2 days of treatment. You can help relieve headaches by taking over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Usually, headaches go away on their own.
- Limit or avoid alcohol while taking Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid). You might get a rash on your upper arms and face when you drink alcohol while taking this medication. The rash usually appears 30 to 45 minutes after you drink alcohol and can make you feel warm. It usually goes away on its own in 30 to 60 minutes.
- Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) can interact with iron medications, vitamins, and supplements. Take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) at least 2 hours before or after taking anything with iron. If you take them at the same time, both might not work as well. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber if you're not sure if you need to space out any of your medications to avoid drug interactions.
Common questions about Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)
No. As of April 2025, there's no generic version of Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) available.
Adults with healthy kidneys should take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) 3 or 4 times a day. Children usually take it 2 or 3 times a day. If you have kidney problems, check with your prescriber how often you should take the medication. They might tell you to take it less often, like twice a day, to keep you safe. Kidney problems can cause the medication to build up in the body and raise the risk of side effects. If you're not sure how often to take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid), ask your prescriber.
Maybe, it depends on the cause and type of kidney stone you have. Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) won't break down any kidney stones you already have. But it can help stop new stones from forming after you've had surgery to remove large or obstructing stones. Your prescriber will first check any stones you've passed in your urine to see what kind they are. This helps your prescriber figure out what's causing them, how to prevent them, and if Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) is right for you.
Most of the time, side effects from Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) go away on their own or after you stop taking the medication. For example, mild headaches are common during the first 2 days of treatment. But they usually go away by themselves. Other side effects can include mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, shakiness, and nervousness. Talk to your prescriber if you're worried about any side effects.
No. Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) isn't an antibiotic. So taking Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) by itself won't cure your UTI. You need to take an appropriate antibiotic to treat your UTI. Usually, the antibiotic works well on its own to treat UTIs. But if not, your prescriber might have you take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) with it. It might help your antibiotic work better to get rid of the infection.
It depends. Kidney stones caused by certain UTIs usually need to be removed through surgery. If surgery is an option, you shouldn't take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) instead. But Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) might be a choice for people who can't have surgery. It can also be used long term as prevention for people who often get UTIs and are more likely to get stones from them. Ask your prescriber if Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) is an option for you.
No. Don't take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) if you're pregnant or think you might be. It can harm an unborn baby if taken while pregnant. If you can get pregnant and you're taking this medication, use reliable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Tell your prescriber right away if you become pregnant while taking Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid).
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Risks and warnings for Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) 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.
Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Risk factors: Advanced kidney problems
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) might cause your red blood cells to break down faster than your body can make them. This is a condition called hemolytic anemia.
Sometimes, the only sign that this is happening is a low red blood cell count. So, your prescriber will check your blood cell count every so often while you're taking Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid). But also tell your care team if you feel tired, dizzy, weak, sick to your stomach, or lose your appetite. These can be signs of hemolytic anemia. You might need to stop the medication to help you feel better.
Harm to an unborn baby
- Risk factors: Currently pregnant or can become pregnant
Based on animals studies, Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) can harm an unborn baby if taken during pregnancy. If you can get pregnant and you're taking this medication, it's important to use reliable birth control. Tell your healthcare team right away if you become pregnant while taking this medication.
Possible liver problems
Although it's rare, Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) might cause liver problems. This is based on evidence of liver problems with a similar substance to the medication. And, a study showed that very high doses of acetamide, a substance the medication breaks down into, caused cancer in rats. Keep in mind that these doses were more than 1,500 times more than what adults usually take of Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid). But to be safe, your prescriber will check your liver function while you're taking this medication.
Use with caution in people with kidney problems
Your kidneys work to clear Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) from your body. If you have kidney problems, the kidneys don't work as well to get rid of the medication from your system. This can make the medication build up in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects.
Let your prescriber know if you have kidney problems before starting Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid). Your prescriber might need to lower your dose to keep you safe. Don't take Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) if you have a severe kidney condition.
Interaction with iron
- Risk factors: Taking medications that have iron
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) can interact with medications, vitamins, and supplements that have iron. Taking Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) at the same time as these products can make both not work as well.
Check with your pharmacist or prescriber if you're not sure if your medications have iron in them. They can help you figure out how to space out each medication to avoid interactions.
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250mg | 90 tablets | $654.01 | $7.27 |
Typical dosage for Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid)
The dose is based on your body weight.
-
Adults: The typical starting dose is 12 mg/kg per day, split evenly into 3 or 4 doses throughout the day. It's taken by mouth on an empty stomach. Don't take more than 1,500 mg (6 tablets) per day.
-
Children: The typical starting dose is 10 mg/kg per day, split evenly into 2 or 3 doses throughout the day. It's taken by mouth on an empty stomach. The prescriber might change the dose based on how well the medication is working and if there are any side effects.
Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.
How much does Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) cost?
$654.01
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) 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 Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) will not be safe for you to take.
- Have a urinary infection caused by germs that don't make the urease protein
- Have a urinary infection that can be controlled by antibiotics alone
- Poor kidney function
- People who aren't using reliable birth control
- Currently pregnant
Lithostat (acetohydroxamic acid) images
