See Ferrum, p. 159.

Therapeutic Action

Said to be mildly diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, refrigerant, alkalinizer.

Uses

The real value of the citrates in medicine seems to be very poorly established, some using them extensively and claiming much, and others placing no reliance in them at all. They are prescribed as such or as the"solution of potassium citrate"in the treatment of gonorrhea, cystitis, etc., particularly when it is desired to render the urine less acid. They are also still used in the treatment of renal or cystic calculi, gout, and rheumatism. They are largely used in cough and fever mixtures, particularly for colds, influenza, bronchitis, and pneumonia. They have been recommended to lessen coagulability in the early stages of pneumonia, and late in typhoid fever. Recommended for pellagra. Sodium citrate is quite extensively employed in infant feeding to prevent the formation of hard curds by milk.

Administration

The citrates of lithium, potassium, and sodium are the salts used for the citric acid radical. They are somewhat deliquescent, so are not prescribed in powders. The doses are rather large for capsules. Their solubility and freedom from odor or unpleasant taste render them well suited to administration in aqueous solution, which is the usual method of employment. The lithium citrate is on the market in 3- and 5- grain tablets, put up 40 to the bottle. They are frequently prescribed and should always be ordered in this number, so that the original bottle may be dispensed. Lithium citrate tablets are often prescribed for rheumatism, genito-urinary disturbances, etc.

Some prescriptions showing the usual employment of citrates are shown in the following:

Tab. Lithii Cit. (gr. v) .................. no. xl.

Sig

One in a glass of water every four hours.

For cough, bronchitis, etc. (child 4 years old):

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful every two hours.

In the treatment of cough:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful every two hours.

In the treatment of the cough of measles:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water every two hours.

Something like the following has been suggested in the effort to abort pneumonia:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water every two hours.

In the treatment of gonorrhea:

M.

Sig

Tablespoonful in water four times daily.

1 Musser and Kelly: Practical Treatment.

2 Anders: Practice of Medicine.

3 White and Martin: Genito-urinary and Venereal Diseases.

Used as an antipyretic in the acute diseases of childhood, as measles, scarlatina, bronchitis, etc.:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water every two hours.