OLOPEG

Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of renal tubular acidosis with calcium stones, hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis of any etiology, uric acid lithiasis with or without calcium stones. When potassium citrate is given orally, the metabolism of absorbed citrate produces an alkaline load. The induced alkaline load in turn increases urinary pH and raises urinary citrate by augmenting citrate clearance without measurably altering ultrafilterable serum citrate. Thus, potassium citrate therapy appears to increase urinary citrate principally by modifying the renal handling of citrate, rather than by increasing the filtered load of citrate.

Potassium plays a vital physiological role in maintenance of normal electrical excitability of nerve and muscle. It is also important in the genesis and correction of imbalances of acid-base metabolism.

High molecular weight (4000) macrogols are long linear polymers which retain water molecules by means of hydrogen bonds. When administered by the oral route, they lead to an increase in volume of intestinal fluids.

Sodium chloride is the principle salt involved in maintaining the osmotic tension of blood and tissues. Changes in osmotic tension influence the movement of fluids and diffusion of salts in cellular tissue.

Sodium citrate has no relevant pharmacodynamic activity other than that caused by its alkalinity (e.g. its gastric acid neutralising capacity). Sodium citrate is a non-particulate antacid for use by mouth to prior to general anaesthesia for caesarean section.