How to Prevent Uric Acid Kidney Stones

If you can catch your kidney stone when you pass it, your doctor can have it examined. If the stone is primarily uric acid, you can change your diet to reduce or eliminate a repeat of kidney stones.

Instructions

1. 

   Drink about 14 cups of water a day.

2. Decrease purines in your diet. Examples of foods rich in purines include liver, kidneys, thymus gland, pancreas, brains, fish, shellfish, asparagus, poultry, peas, spinach and beans.

3. Decrease your intake of alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate you.

4. Eat more foods rich in citric acid. These include oranges, lemons and limes.

5. Avoid aspirin and medications that contain aspirin.

Tips & Warnings

• If dietary changes are not enough, your doctor might prescribe allopurinol, along with a medication such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate or citric acid, to keep your urine alkaline.

• The proper changes in diet depend greatly on the composition of your kidney stones. Don't make changes without consulting your doctor, or you could unintentionally get more kidney stones.

References

• eMedicine
• Sharp Health Care