Oral rehydration salts (ORS) Pregnancy: Not contra-indicated in pregnancy or lactation; medical supervision is recommended for use during pregnancy and lactation.

Disodium hydrogen citrate with glucose, potassium chloride and sodium chloride

Brand names: Dioralyte, Electrolade

This is an oral preparation combining citrate and glucose with potassium and sodium chloride, used for oral rehydration and electrolyte replacement, for example in diarrhoea.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: One or two sachets, each dissolved in 200 ml of water

Route: Oral

Frequency: After every loose motion

Fetched SPC product is Dioralyte Blackcurrant Sachets. Adults (including the elderly): one or two sachets after every loose motion; more may be required initially to ensure early and full volume repletion. Reconstitution: dissolve the contents of each sachet in 200 ml (approx. 7 fl oz) of drinking water — a weaker solution will not contain the optimal glucose and electrolyte concentration and a stronger solution may cause electrolyte imbalance. Use fresh drinking water for adults and children; for infants, and where drinking water is unavailable, use freshly boiled and cooled water. Make up immediately before use; may be stored up to 24 hours in a refrigerator, otherwise discard any solution remaining an hour after reconstitution. Do not boil the solution and do not reconstitute in any diluent other than water. Daily intake may be based on a volume of 20-40 ml/kg body weight for adults and children, and 150 ml/kg body weight for infants up to the age of 2. Approximations given: infants up to age 2 — one to one and a half times the usual 24-hour feed volume; children — one sachet dissolved in 200 ml of water after every loose motion. In the initial stages of treatment all foods including cow's or artificial milk should be stopped, but breast milk need not be withheld. After 24-48 hours, when symptoms have subsided, resume the normal diet gradually. If vomiting accompanies the diarrhoea, take small amounts frequently, but ensure the whole required volume is taken. Severe dehydration may need correcting with parenteral fluids initially, followed by oral maintenance if indicated. If no improvement within 24-48 hours, the patient should be seen by a physician. Not to be used in infants below 24 months without medical supervision; infants under 2 years with diarrhoea should be seen by a physician as soon as possible. Contains approximately 300 mg sodium per sachet (15% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult). Paediatric volumes above are stated as ml/kg of reconstituted solution, not as a mg/kg drug dose, so no structured paediatric dose has been recorded — verify paediatric fluid volumes against a children's formulary.

Dose adjustments

Renal

No dose adjustment stated. Should not be used for self-treatment by patients with kidney disease — use should be supervised by a physician. Where the kidneys are functioning normally it is difficult to over-hydrate by mouth, and where there is doubt about the dosage more rather than less should be taken (section 4.2/4.4).

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients
SPC states there are no known contraindications, but notes conditions where treatment will be inappropriate, e.g. intestinal obstruction requiring surgical intervention
Not for self-treatment by patients with chronic or persistent diarrhoea, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, an intestinal obstruction, or those on low potassium or sodium diets — use in these patients should be supervised by a physician

Side effects

SPC section 4.8: none stated

Interactions

SPC section 4.5: none stated

Clinical monograph

How it works

Glucose promotes coupled sodium and water absorption across the intestinal mucosa, while the included sodium, potassium and citrate (a bicarbonate precursor) replace fluid and electrolyte losses and help correct acidosis.

Prescribing in practice

Reconstitute the preparation only with the recommended volume of water and use it as directed, since incorrect dilution can produce a dangerous electrolyte imbalance; use with care where there is renal impairment.
It is intended to replace fluid and electrolyte losses, particularly in acute diarrhoea, and the made-up solution should be discarded after the stated time.
Caution is needed in patients in whom sodium or potassium load is a concern, such as those with renal or cardiac disease.

Monitoring

Assess hydration and clinical status, and check electrolytes and renal function where losses are severe or in patients at risk of imbalance.

Counselling the patient

Make up the solution with the correct amount of water and do not add sugar or salt.
Discard any made-up solution that is not used within the recommended time.
Seek medical advice if diarrhoea is severe or persistent, especially in young children or older people.

Evidence & guidelines

Oral rehydration with glucose-electrolyte solutions is supported by strong evidence and is recommended for managing dehydration from acute diarrhoea.

Reference: WHO ORS; NICE NG143; NICE CKS Gastroenteritis; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways