Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby - Yes, But Read If You're Breastfeeding

Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby – Yes, potassium citrate is safe for babies or infants. The ingredient is safe to be consumed when you are pregnant or when you have a baby who breastfeeds. Well, potassium citrate is actually a molecule that occurs naturally. If your doctor recommends that you take this medicine during pregnancy, your maternal K+ levels should be monitored constantly because of the risk of fetal or maternal cardiac arrhythmias that are linked to unusual levels of serum K+ concentrations ^[3].

Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby
What Is Potassium Citrate
Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby
Origins Of Potassium Citrate
Benefits Of This Ingredient For Babies
How Is Potassium Citrate Used In Baby Products

What Is Potassium Citrate?

Potassium citrate is essentially an alkalizing medication used for urinary problems. It is specifically designed to make your urine less acidic. What this ingredient does is to crystallize salts such as calcium phosphate, uric acid, and calcium oxalate to prevent stones from forming in the kidneys. Taking this medication can raise the pH levels of your urine as well as the urine citrate levels to a safer number ^[1]. Doctors can prescribe potassium citrate if you have renal tubular acidosis which is a type of kidney stone. It is also used primarily to stop stones from forming especially when you have gout.

There are four ways in which you can use this medicine such as patch with extended release, tablet with extended release, tablet, and solution. Your doctor will be the one to recommend what form is appropriate for your condition which means that you need to talk with them first. You cannot take this medicine without a prescription.

If you are planning on taking this solution for your kidney stones as recommended by your healthcare specialist, you need to make sure that you have discussed possible allergies when taking it. There is not enough research conducted with regards to babies and pregnant women to determine whether this type of medication doesn’t have any side effects. It is best that you take this with caution as much as possible.

It is important that you discuss any medical problems that you may have that can render this medicine’s benefits useless because of other drugs that you are taking. If you have an electrolyte imbalance, kidney problems, stomach problems, or even peptic ulcers, taking this drug can make your condition worse ^[2].

So what exactly is potassium citrate? Also referred to as tripotassium citrate, this ingredient is the potassium salt of citric acid. It is basically a white, hygroscopic type of crystalline powder that has a salty or saline taste and is completely odorless. With regards to its potassium content, it actually has 38.3% in terms of mass. This ingredient is highly hygroscopic as well as deliquescent when it is in monohydrate form. This is commonly used in treating kidney stones such as renal tubular acidosis as well as managing Hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis ^[6].

It is a type of deliquescent powder that is soluble when introduced in water and is typically used as a diaphoretic, urinary and systemic alkalizer, diuretic, and expectorant even ^[7].

Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby?

If you are breastfeeding, you will need to be extra careful when taking this drug since a bit of it can be passed on to your little one through your breastmilk. The dosage that you ingest and the one that your baby can absorb through your milk may vary but it still may cause some side effects on babies. You will need to have a thorough discussion with your healthcare provider to ensure that your baby will still be safe even when you are taking this drug for your condition. Take note that the normal levels of potassium ion in human milk is at 13 mEg/L. There is limited information whether the intake of potassium citrate can alter the content hence it is recommended that this drug be given to breastfeeding women only if it is really necessary ^[4].

Origins Of Potassium Citrate

Potassium citrate is actually the potassium salt form in citrate that comes with an alkalinizing property. This ingredient raises the concentration of plasma bicarbonate in your system which leads to elevated urinary pH and blood levels. This comes along with a reduction in calcium ion because of the elevated calcium complex formation that comes with dissociated anions. You will find that your urinary citrate levels can go up because of how your renal glands handle citrate. By boosting the excretion of bicarbonate as well as raising your urinary pH levels, this medication triggers its alkalizing as well as its antiurolithic properties in your body ^[5].

Benefits Of This Ingredient For Babies

Now that you have an idea on what potassium citrate is used for, how does this ingredient benefit babies and us? There are several benefits that links this ingredient to one’s overall health so let us see how it can be beneficial to us when used properly.

Reduces chances of stroke

The effects of potassium in your blood pressure as well as your heart rate can help reduce your risk of stroke. It appears that taking potassium can help reduce one’s high blood pressure which is good for your heart health.

Supports bone health

The evidence for this claim is actually mixed. If the body has become too acidic, the calcium in the bones gets pulled out to keep the blood in an alkaline state which, in turn, can weaken the bones. If you are planning on taking potassium supplement, there should be a proper balance between calcium and potassium to preserve bone health. Another study showed that those who took this ingredient had a significant increase in their bone density but in postmenopausal women, there was no significant change ^[8].

Prevents kidney stones

Like it was mentioned before, the use of potassium citrate helps make your urine become more alkaline to eliminate the acid that forms in your pee. This significantly reduces the formation of crystals or stones that may clog your kidneys. What’s more, taking this ingredient can prevent excretion of calcium so that there is a healthy calcium balance in your body [9].

Maintain water levels

Another benefit that is linked to this ingredient is that it is helpful in keeping the water levels in our body at a safe level. What’s more, it can help convert any excess blood sugar in your body into glycogen which can help stabilize your energy levels throughout the day.

Reduces body fat. If you are a weightlifter who is need of help with reducing those extra body fat, adding potassium citrate into your regimen can be useful as it breaks down the fats while promoting muscle mass. It is important that you follow the correct dosage when using this ingredient as part of your training because it keeps your weight at the right number and your muscles at the right size ^[9].

Improves muscle function

Another benefit to taking this ingredient in supplement form is that it actually enhances your muscle function. This plays a huge part when you exercise because your muscles are working at 100%. Add to this the fact that your energy levels are maintained because this ingredient helps in regulating your water and blood sugar levels, and you will be able to be more productive when working out. Like it was mentioned before, you need to use the right dosage for this supplement as too much can have adverse effects. This way, you won’t have to endure cramps, muscle fatigue, and the like which are symptoms of low potassium levels.

Easily absorbed

We all know that we need to get our potassium from the foods that we eat but when we are still in need of that extra boost, taking this ingredient in tablet form can help raise our potassium levels. One reason behind this is that it is easily absorbed when ingested so you can expect that your potassium can go back up.

Regulates blood sugar

A low blood sugar can trigger trembling, weakness, sweating, and even confusion when not addressed immediately. Ingesting this supplement may help provide you with immediate relief ^[10].

Prevents hypokalemia

Taking this ingredient in supplement form protects you against low potassium levels which can be dangerous when you do not address it immediately. Low potassium levels can affect your body’s function since this ingredient helps send electrical signals to the rest of the cells in the body. You will find that using this supplement can regulate potassium in your body which can improve your overall health ^[11].

How Is Potassium Citrate Used In Baby Products

Potassium citrate is typically used to reduce the acid levels in urine and in the blood as well as keep gout attacks at bay. It may sound like a useful supplement for parents to give to their babies but there are a few precautions that you need to take into account.

Take note of allergies

Talk to your child’s doctor if your baby has an allergies or allergic reactions to the ingredients used in this medication. Mention any signs and symptoms such as rashes, itching, cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath even ^[12].

Consider OTC medications

If your child is taking other medications, prescribed or over-the-counter, you will need to inform the pharmacist or doctor about it. This can prevent any untoward incidents when this medication is given to them for their medical needs.

Don’t use with certain medical conditions

If your baby has been diagnosed with urinary tract infection wherein the urinary tract becomes infected with bacteria, make sure that you don’t give this drug to them as it can cause some side effects.[16]Although there is not enough evidence to suggest that giving this supplement to pregnant or breastfeeding women can be dangerous to their babies, it is best to consult your health practitioner first. It is possible that there are side effects that may be triggered when ingesting this ingredient while your baby is still in your womb as small amounts of it can be fed to it.

On the other hand, if your baby ingests this medication through your breast milk, keep an eye on possible side effects such as:

Rashes, blisters, hives, itching, tightness in the chest, difficulty in breathing, swallowing, or talking. [17]
Bad belly pain.
Upset stomach and vomiting.
Bloody, black, or tarry stools
Bloating
Vomiting blood
Lightheadedness
Shortness of breath
Tingling or numbness

If any of these side effects appear when you or your little one is taking this medication, you need to bring them to the hospital for immediate treatment.

So how should this medication be given to bring back acid-base balance in your baby’s body?

Liquids – Mix the medication with water and let your child drink it as recommended by your physician. Make sure that the solution is mixed thoroughly first before giving to your child. It is important that you follow the recommended dosage to avoid any side effects. Chill if possible to help make this mixture taste better.
Tablets – Give this to your child after meals so that there is enough buffer for the stomach to prevent side effects. See to it that your little drinks plenty of liquids every day unless doctors state otherwise.

Although this type of potassium can be recommended to children who have developed stones in their kidneys, it may not be that efficient in getting rid of the formation of stones at all. Some children’s condition recurred even with the introduction of this medication. It is possible that this is due to the elevated urine pH which can lead to calcium phosphate formation in the kidneys. However, compared to other medications, this ingredient has been found to contain less side effects which is why it is normally suggested as a treatment ^[13].

As much as possible, avoid taking this medication without consulting your physician first especially when you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a child that has some problems with kidney stones. It is best that you consult first to get a prescription if needed so you will know what the right dosage is, how often should it be given, and what possible side effects can appear. Make sure that you take note of the possible dangers of overdosing on this medicine especially when it comes to treating your little one.

Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby Resources:
[1] Medicine Net; Potassium Citrate, Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD.
[2] Mayo Clinic; Potassium Citrate (Oral Route).
[3] Drugs; Potassium citrate Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings, December 15, 2017.
[4] Generic Drugs; Potassium Citrate Pregnancy.
[5] US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health; Effects of the association of potassium citrate and agropyrum repens in renal stone treatment: results of a prospective randomized comparison with potassium citrate, Brardi S, Imperiali P, Cevenini G, Verdacchi T, Ponchietti R, June 2012.
[6] Drug Bank; Potassium Citrate.
[7] Medical Dictionary; Potassium Citrate.
[8] Diet vs Disease; Potassium Citrate: Everything You Need to Know, Explained in Plain English, February 2018.
[9] Exercise; Potassium Citrate.
[10] Mayo Clinic; Low potassium (hypokalemia), January 11, 2018.
[11] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid, November 19, 2018.
[12] Everyday Health; What Is Potassium Citrate?, November 09, 2018.
[13] U.S. National Library of Medicine; Effects of Potassium Citrate in Urine of Children With Elevated Calcium in Urine and Kidney Stones, June 15, 2007.

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Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby?

Vanessa Fontenot

What Is Potassium Citrate?

Is Potassium Citrate Safe For Baby?

Origins Of Potassium Citrate