Kidney stones can now be treated by specialists with new medication

UROCIT-K can be used alone, or for example, with appropriate medications or as an adjunct to Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) and provides a medical alternative that might be advantageous to the different groups of patients at risk of forming kidney stones.

A/Prof PG Kerr, Deputy Director of Nephrology at Monash Medical Centre, Clayton (Australia) supports the use of UROCIT-K alone or as adjunctive therapy for patients with calcium containing stones.

• Potassium citrate has been utilised for many years overseas with success in the management of calcium stone disease^1,2, and
  
• Should be considered by Nephrologists for the medical management of patients with calcium stone disease when simple measures have failed.
  
• UROCIT-K represents an important advance for treating calcium stone disease in Australia.

UROCIT-K may not be appropriate for all patients, and may be contraindicated in some patients, the advice from an appropriate specialist is recommended prior to commencing treatment.

UROCIT-K (potassium citrate) is a modified release formulation available as a wax matrix tablet that allows twice daily dosing. UROCIT-K contains 10 mEq of potassium citrate, equivalent to 10 mmols potassium and 3.3 mmols citrate and is available in bottles of 100 tablets.

UROCIT-K can be supplied without prescription. However Orphan Australia will be marketing UROCIT-K to specialists including nephrologists and urologists. These specialists may then recommend the use of UROCIT-K to appropriate patients. "Advice Pads" that will operate in a manner similar to prescription pads will be available from Orphan Australia, and will include dietary information that can be customised to each patient along with directions on how to obtain the product.

Advice Pads, product brochures and product information are available directly from Orphan Australia for specialists.

Hospitals can purchase UROCIT-K directly from Orphan Australia. UROCIT-K will also be available to patients directly from Orphan Australia and can be purchased by mail order, telephone or email.

A report by the Australian Kidney Foundation (1999)³ stated that "In Australia kidney stones cost the health system $66.6 million a year of which $39 million is in hospital admissions. Over 1 million Australians are currently suffering from kidney stones and the lifetime risk of developing kidney stones is 1 in 10 for men and 1 in 35 for women."

The introduction of UROCIT®-K can be seen as a positive solution to a costly and widespread health problem.

References:
1. Barcelo P et al. J Urol 1993; 150:1761-4

2. Lee YH et al. J Urol 1999; 161:1453-7

3. The Australian Kidney Foundation, "The Australian Kidney. National Epidemiological Survey of Diseases of the Kidney and Urinary Tract." June 1999.