Potassium citrate is a new and exciting therapeutic approach which has considerably broadened our capability for the medical control of stone disease. The discussion summarizes the data supporting utility of potassium citrate in the management of renal tubular acidosis with calcium stones, hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis ('idiopathic', or secondary to chronic diarrheal syndrome or thiazide therapy) and uric acid lithiasis with or without calcium stones.