INN monograph
Oral rehydration salts
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class) · POM
Verified · Updated 01 Aug 2026 · Source: Local active-ingredient clinical extract; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Kenya market
Wholesale / list prices where loaded
Risk first
Contraindications
- oliguria
- glucose malabsorption
- very severe diarhoea
- inability to drink
- severe and sustained vomiting, intestinal obstruction, paralytic ileus, perforated bowel.
Precautions
- Obtain allergy and medication history.
- Adjust for renal/hepatic impairment, pregnancy, lactation, extremes of age and interacting drugs.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration.
- Monitor for expected class adverse effects.
Point of care
Dosing
Adult
According to the extent of fluid loss. Usually 200 - 400ml solution after every loose motion. Infant: 1-1 times usual feed volume. Children: 200ml after every loose motion.
Paediatric
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Renal
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Hepatic
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Safety
Drug interactions
- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Safety
Adverse effects
- Adverse reactions vary by agent.
- Counsel on common predictable effects and serious warning symptoms (allergy, severe rash, jaundice, unusual bleeding, severe GI symptoms, neurological changes).
- Report suspected ADRs via national pharmacovigilance channels.
Use
Indications
- Therapeutic use is agent- and indication-specific within the class (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)).
- Use according to culture results, national guidelines (Kenya STG/EML where applicable) and the current product SmPC.
- Dehydration (treatment and prophylaxis)
Pharmacology
Mode of action
The rationale of oral rehydration therapy is preservation of the facilitated glucose-sodium co-transport system in the small-bowel mucosa.
Full mechanism text
The rationale of oral rehydration therapy is preservation of the facilitated glucose-sodium co-transport system in the small-bowel mucosa. Generally, all oral rehydration solutions contain sodium and potassium to promote fluid uptake and replacement of major electrolytes lost.
ADME
Pharmacokinetics & PD
| Onset | Product-specific |
|---|---|
| Duration | Product-specific |
| Route | See product SmPC |
| Elimination | are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT |
| Half-life | when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC. |
Full PK/PD text
Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT metabolism, renal clearance and half-life when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Kenya
Brands & prices
| Brand | Company | Pack | KES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawalyte ORS | Dawa Limited | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| DTS | Cosmos Limited. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| DTS-Z kit | Cosmos Limited. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Electral | FDC. Ltd | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Lyfe | Elys Chemicals Industries Ltd. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Oral Salts | Sphinx Pharmaceuticals Ltd | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Oralyte | Medipharm Sales Ltd | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Orasol | Biodeal Laboratories Ltd. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| ORS, by Allied | Laboratory & Allied Ltd. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Osmolar | ATCO Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Peditral Low ORS | G. D. Searle & Co. Ltd. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
| Unilyte N, WHO formula | Universal Corporation Ltd. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
Special populations
Pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Lactation
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Diet
Food & alcohol
- Food
- Food
Trust
Sources & disclaimer
Source: Local active-ingredient clinical extract; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Last reviewed: 01 Aug 2026
Decision support only — not a substitute for clinical judgment, product SmPC, or Kenya STG/EML.