Lithrocal Special Precautions

Hyperkalemia: In patients with impaired mechanisms for excreting potassium, Potassium Citrate Tablet administration can produce hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest. Potentially fatal hyperkalemia can develop rapidly and be asymptomatic. The use of Potassium Citrate Tablet in patients with chronic renal failure, or any other condition which impairs potassium excretion such as severe myocardial damage or heart failure, should be avoided.
Interaction with potassium-sparing diuretics: Concomitant administration of Potassium Citrate Tablet and a potassium-sparing diuretic (such as triamterene, spironolactone or amiloride) should be avoided, since the simultaneous administration of these agents can produce severe hyperkalemia. If there is severe vomiting, abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal bleeding, Potassium Citrate Tablet should be discontinued immediately and the possibility of bowel perforation or obstruction investigated.
Precautions: Physicians should consider reminding the patient of the following: To take each dose without crushing, chewing or sucking the tablet, to take this medicine only as directed. This is especially important if the patient is also taking both diuretics and digitalis preparations, to check with physician if there is trouble swallowing tablets or if the tablet seems to stick in the throat, to check with the doctor at once if tarry stools or other evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding is noticed.