Bicitra

For patients taking the tablet form of this medicine :

• Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, or suck the tablet. Take with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
• If you have trouble swallowing the tablets or they seem to stick in your throat, check with your doctor at once . If this medicine is not completely swallowed and not properly dissolved, it can cause severe irritation.

For patients taking the liquid form of this medicine :

• Dilute with a full glass (6 ounces) of water or juice and drink; follow with additional water, if desired.
• Chill, but do not freeze, this medicine before taking it, for a better taste.

For patients taking the crystals form of this medicine :

• Add the contents of one packet to at least 6 ounces of cool water or juice. Stir well to make sure the crystals are completely dissolved.
• Drink all the mixture to be sure you are taking the correct dose. Follow with additional water or juice, if desired.

Take each dose immediately after a meal or within 30 minutes after a meal or bedtime snack . This helps prevent the medicine from causing stomach pain or a laxative effect...


For sodium citrate and citric acid

• For oral dosage form (solution):
  • o make the urine and blood more alkaline (less acidic) and to prevent kidney stones:
    • Adults—At first, 2 to 6 teaspoonfuls of solution four times a day, after meals and at bedtime. The solution should be mixed in one to three ounces of water. Your doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will usually not take more than five ounces a day.
  • To make the contents of the stomach less acidic before surgery:
    • Adults—1 to 2 tablespoonfuls as a single dose. You may mix it in one to two tablespoonfuls of water.
  • To make the blood more alkaline (less acidic):
    • Children—At first, 1 to 3 teaspoonfuls of solution four times a day, after meals and at bedtime. The solution should be mixed in one to three ounces of water. Your doctor may change the dose if needed.

http://www.drugs.com/cons/bicitra.html

There are different preparations (tablets, solution or crystals) doses and preparation depending if one is using to decrease citrate content to prevent kidney stones or to decrease PH content prior to surgery (to prevent aspiration pneumonia).

Not an OR nurse, but doesn't diluting it in 500 - 1000ml fluid sort of defeat the purpose of being NPO pre-op?