potassium para-aminobenzoate at a glance
Medicine class
Antifibrotic agent
Licensed uses
Peyronie’s disease and scleroderma in adults
Form
Powder dissolved in cold water or fruit juice
Food
Take with food; treatment should be interrupted during substantially reduced food intake
What is potassium para-aminobenzoate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for adults with:
Peyronie’s disease, in which fibrous plaque develops within the penis.
Scleroderma, a group of disorders involving abnormal collagen deposition and fibrosis.
How does potassium para-aminobenzoate work?
Its action is not clearly established. Increased tissue oxygen uptake has been proposed to enhance monoamine oxidase activity and influence processes involved in fibrosis, but this is not proven.
potassium para-aminobenzoate preparations and strengths
Sachet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 3 g
How to take potassium para-aminobenzoate
Use exactly as prescribed.
Dissolve the sachet contents in cold water or fruit juice.
Drink the prepared solution with food.
Contact the prescriber if fasting, eating very little or unable to eat, because treatment may need to be interrupted to reduce the risk of low blood sugar.
potassium para-aminobenzoate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach discomfort
- Diarrhoea
- Fever or chills
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe hypersensitivity or DRESS, including widespread rash, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, swelling, blisters or mouth lesions
- Liver injury, which may cause jaundice, dark urine, fever, nausea or loss of appetite
- Low blood sugar, particularly during inadequate food intake
- Symptoms suggesting high blood potassium, such as muscle weakness, tingling, palpitations or abnormal breathing
potassium para-aminobenzoate in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are absent or limited, and the UK product is not recommended during pregnancy. Anyone pregnant or planning pregnancy should discuss continued treatment with the prescriber.
potassium para-aminobenzoate while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether potassium para-aminobenzoate or its metabolites enter breast milk, and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded. The prescriber should assess treatment and feeding options before use while breastfeeding.
potassium para-aminobenzoate interactions
A medication review is important because clinically significant interactions include:
Sulfonamide antibiotics, including co-trimoxazole
Potassium para-aminobenzoate can inactivate sulfonamides; concurrent use is contraindicated.
Methotrexate
Displacement from protein binding may increase methotrexate concentrations and toxicity risk.
Cardiac glycosides, including digoxin
The potassium content may reduce their effect.
Common questions about potassium para-aminobenzoate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is potassium para-aminobenzoate used for?
In the UK selected product, it is licensed for treating Peyronie’s disease and scleroderma in adults.
Does potassium para-aminobenzoate straighten Peyronie’s curvature?
Benefit varies. One controlled study found an effect on plaque and deterioration of curvature but no significant improvement in existing curvature.
How should potassium para-aminobenzoate powder be prepared?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.