Birmingham Urology Clinic
Effercitrate prescribing information
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine
because it contains important information for you.
Always take this medicine as described in this leaflet or as your
doctor or pharmacist has told you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This
includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See
section 4.
- You must contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not
improve after 4 days.
In this leaflet:
1. What Effercitrate Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Effercitrate Tablets
3. How to take Effercitrate Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Effercitrate Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT EFFERCITRATE TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE
USED FOR
Effercitrate tablets are effervescent tablets that are dissolved in water
to make a drink. Effercitrate helps to relieve the symptoms of cystitis
(inflammation of the bladder) by making the urine alkaline and reducing the
irritation caused to the bladder lining. Alkalinising the urine also helps in prevention of certain types of stones. You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 4 days.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE EFFERCITRATE
TABLETS
Do not take Effercitrate Tablets if you
• are allergic to potassium citrate, citric acid or any of the other ingredients
in Effercitrate (listed in section 6).
• have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalaemia).
• have kidney disease
• have heart disease including an irregular heart beat.
• have Addison’s disease (where the adrenal glands do not produce
enough of a hormone called cortisol).
• have dark or cloudy urine, or are dehydrated
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Effercitrate Tablets if
you:
• have high blood pressure.
Use with caution if you are elderly, as elderly people react differently to this
medicine.
Children
Effercitrate Tablets are not recommended for children under the age of 6
years.
Other medicines and Effercitrate Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might
take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:
• Other medicines containing potassium
• Medicines which make you retain potassium including medicines which
make you pass water (‘water tablets’) more often called diuretics such as
amiloride and triamterene.
• Medicines called Aldosterone antagonists such as spironolactone.
• Medicines that increase potassium levels such as ACE inhibitors or
aliskiren (for high blood pressure), angiotensin-II receptor antagonists for
high blood pressure or heart failure (such as losartan), Cyclosporin and
Tacrolimus (medicines used to reduce the risk of organ transplant rejection).
• Nitrofurantoin or methenamine (anti-bacterials for urinary tract infection)
• Aspirin and other salicylates
• Medicines to help ease breathing (Salbutamol, ephedrine, phenylephrine).
• Stimulants such as amphetamines
• Barbiturates (Phenobarbital)
• Tetracycline (antibiotic)
• Digitalis for heart failure
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Effercitrate Tablets
Potassium citrate and Citric acid
Effercitrate Tablets with food
Effercitrate Tablets should be dissolved in water and taken with food or
after food. See section 3.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for
advice before taking this medicine.
3. HOW TO TAKE EFFERCITRATE TABLETS
Always take Effercitrate Tablets exactly as described in this leaflet or as
your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should check with your doctor
or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Take this medicine by mouth.
Dose: For adults and children over 6 years: Take two tablets dissolved in a
glass of water up to three times daily, preferably with or after meals.
Effercitrate Tablets are not recommended for children under 6 years old.
Effercitrate Tablets will dissolve more quickly in warm water or if stirred.
Do not take more Effercitrate Tablets than the dose recommended above.
If you take more Effercitrate Tablets than you should:
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital casualty
department. Take the Effercitrate Tablets with you.
If you forget to take Effercitrate Tablets
Take a dose as instructed above when you remember and then continue
your normal course of treatment. Do not take a double dose to make up for
a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Effercitrate Tablets can cause side effects, although not
everybody gets them.
Some side effects may include:
• an increased production of urine (this is quite normal, and shows the
medicine is working).
• an upset stomach (this can be reduced by taking Effercitrate Tablets with
meals or after meals).
If any of the side effects gets serious, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This
includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also
report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at:
www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help
provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE EFFERCITRATE TABLETS
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25ºC.
Always replace the cap on your tube of Effercitrate Tablets, to protect the
tablets from moisture.
Do not use Effercitrate Tablets after the expiry date that is stated on the
tube and on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of
the month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask
your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These
measures will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Effercitrate Tablets contain
• The active substances are potassium bicarbonate and citric acid.
When dissolved in water, the solution will contain the equivalent of 1.5g
potassium citrate and 0.25g citric acid
• The other ingredients are saccharin sodium, lemon and lime flavour,
macrogol 6000, copovidone and magnesium stearate.
What Effercitrate Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Each tube of Effercitrate Tablets contains 12 white effervescent tablets.
