Jun 2026 · 5 min read
Electral is the name most Indian households reach for the moment a stomach bug or a brutal summer afternoon hits. It is a brand of oral rehydration salts (ORS) made by FDC Limited, built on the World Health Organization’s ORS formula. Below is a straight, practical guide to what it contains, how to use it properly, and where people most often go wrong.
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Important: This is general information, not a prescription. Electral is a rehydration product; dosing, especially for infants or anyone with a medical condition, should follow a doctor’s advice.
What Electral powder is, in one line
Electral is a glucose-and-electrolyte powder that you dissolve in clean water to replace fluids and salts lost through diarrhoea, vomiting, heat or heavy sweating. Because it follows the WHO ORS design, it rehydrates faster and more effectively than water alone.
What is inside a sachet
The widely sold 21.8 g sachet contains pharmacopoeia-grade (IP) ingredients in the balance the WHO formula specifies:
| Ingredient (per 21.8 g sachet) | Quantity | What it does |
| Dextrose, anhydrous (glucose) | 13.50 g | Powers sodium and water absorption in the gut |
| Sodium chloride IP | 2.60 g | Restores sodium lost during fluid loss |
| Potassium chloride IP | 1.50 g | Replaces potassium; supports nerve and muscle function |
| Sodium citrate IP | 2.00 g | Corrects the acidity that builds up with dehydration |
Smaller sachets (such as the 4.4 g size and flavoured variants like orange) carry the same balance scaled down, with a smaller water volume printed on the pack.
How to use Electral the right way
The single biggest mistake is guessing the water. The concentration is engineered, so the water volume is part of the medicine.
| Sachet size | Water to use | Notes |
| 21.8 g | 1 litre of clean water | The standard preparation |
| 4.4 g | As printed (often ~200 ml) | Always follow the pack |
| Any size | Water only | Never mix into milk, juice or soft drinks |
Preparation checklist:
- Use clean, safe drinking water — boiled and cooled, or filtered.
- Empty the wholesachet; do not split a sachet by eye.
- Stir until fully dissolved.
- Sip slowly and steadily rather than gulping.
- Discard any leftover solution after 24 hours and make fresh.
- Store the powder in a cool, dry place away from moisture and sunlight.
When Electral helps
Electral is used to manage dehydration and electrolyte loss from:
- Diarrhoea and vomiting (the classic use, including gastroenteritis).
- Heat exhaustion and excessive sweating in hot, humid weather.
- Recovery after intense or prolonged physical exertion.
It works by restoring both the water and the specific minerals the body has lost, which plain water cannot do on its own.
Side effects and who should be careful
Used correctly for genuine fluid loss, Electral is very safe. Problems mostly come from overuse, wrong dilution, or using it despite an underlying condition.
| Watch for | When it tends to happen | Who is most at risk |
| Too much sodium (thirst, restlessness, confusion) | Over-concentrated mix or overuse | Kidney/heart patients |
| Too much potassium (irregular heartbeat, weakness) | Excessive intake | Kidney disease |
| Swelling / fluid retention | Overuse | Heart or kidney conditions |
| Worsened stomach upset | Drinking too fast, or unnecessary use | Anyone overusing it |
Use Electral only under medical supervision if you have kidney or liver disease, heart failure, diabetes, or are on a sodium- or potassium-restricted diet. In pregnancy, use it only on a doctor’s advice. For newborns and very young infants, dosing must come from a paediatrician.
Electral vs a regular “electrolyte drink”
Since late 2025, Indian regulators have drawn a hard line between true ORS products and sweet electrolyte beverages — and for good reason.
| Electral (ORS) | Sweet electrolyte drink | |
| Built on WHO formula | Yes | Usually no |
| Sugar level | Low, balanced | Often high |
| Purpose | Rehydration during illness/loss | Refreshment |
| Use during diarrhoea | Appropriate | Can worsen dehydration |
If the goal is to treat dehydration, a WHO-formula ORS like Electral is the right tool; a sugary “energy” drink is not a substitute. For the science and the full regulatory background, see our companion explainer on ORS powder and the 2026 rules.
A note for the food and beverage industry
Electral is worth studying as a category, not just a product. It shows how a precisely engineered formula, consistent quality and decades of trust build a household name that casual “electrolyte” brands cannot dislodge. The lesson for new hydration brands is that credibility is built on the formula and compliance first.
It is also a useful reminder of where the legal lines sit: a genuine WHO-formula ORS is regulated as a drug, while most flavoured hydration products are foods. Brands that want to compete in the broader hydration space — without misusing the ORS term — are working a food formulation problem: balancing electrolytes, taste, sugar and stability into something both appealing and compliant.
It is the kind of brief our food technologists at Flavor Catalystz scope carefully before a single sample is made, because the regulatory category decides everything that follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Electral powder used for?
Restoring fluids and electrolytes lost through diarrhoea, vomiting, heat or heavy sweating — in short, treating and preventing dehydration.
What is Electral powder’s composition?
A 21.8 g sachet contains 13.5 g anhydrous dextrose, 2.6 g sodium chloride, 1.5 g potassium chloride and 2.0 g sodium citrate, matching the WHO ORS design.
How much water do I mix with Electral?
Dissolve a standard 21.8 g sachet in one litre of clean water. Smaller sachets use the smaller volume printed on the pack. Always use water, never juice or milk.
What are the side effects of Electral?
Used correctly it is safe. Overuse or wrong dilution can cause excess sodium or potassium, swelling, or stomach upset — more likely in people with kidney or heart conditions.
Can we take Electral powder every day?
No. It is meant for periods of fluid loss, not daily hydration. Routine daily use without need can overload electrolytes; drink plain water for normal thirst.
Is Electral safe for children?
Yes, it is commonly used for childhood dehydration, but the dose should match the child’s age and weight, and infants need paediatric guidance.
What is the difference between Electral and ORS?
There is essentially none in principle — Electral is a brand of ORS built on the WHO formula. “ORS” is the category; Electral is one trusted product within it.
Is Electral safe during pregnancy?
It is generally considered safe, but use it during pregnancy only on a doctor’s advice.