Renal or adrenocortical insufficiency; cardiac disease; acute dehydration; extensive tissue destruction. Pregnancy. Ensure adequate urine output; monitor plasma-potassium and other electrolyte concentrations. Discontinue treatment if severe nausea, vomiting or abdominal distress develops. Accumulation of potassium may occur in renal impairment.
Indication
Hypokalemia, Electrolyte replenisher
Contra Indication
Hyperchloraemia, severe renal or adrenal insufficiency.
Dose
N/A
Side Effect
GI ulceration (sometimes with haemorrhage and perforation or with late formation of strictures) following the use of enteric-coated K chloride preparation; hyperkalaemia.
Oral: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
IV: Pain or phloebitis; cardiac toxicity.
Pregnancy Category
Name :
Not Classified
Description
FDA has not yet classified the drug into a specified pregnancy category.
Mode of Action
Potassium chloride is a major cation of the intracellular fluid. It plays an active role in the conduction of nerve impulses in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle; contraction of cardiac skeletal and smooth muscles; maintenance of normal renal function, acid-base balance, carbohydrate metabolism and gastric secretion.
Interaction
Potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ciclosporin and potassium-containing drugs. Antimuscarinics delay gastric emptying time consequently increasing risk of GI adverse effects esp of solid oral dosage forms.
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy
There are no human data related to use of potassium chloride extended-release capsules during pregnancy; animal reproductive studies not conducted; potassium supplementation that does not lead to hyperkalemia is not expected to cause fetal harm
Lactation
Normal potassium ion content of human milk is about 13 mEq per liter; since oral potassium becomes part of the body potassium pool, as long as body potassium is not excessive, contribution of potassium chloride supplementation should have little or no effect on level in human milk
Adult Dose
Oral
Prophylaxis of hypokalaemia and mild K deficiency; Hypokalaemia
Adult: Prevention of hypokalaemia: 20 mEq daily.
Treatment of hypokalaemia
40-100 mEq/day bid-qid. Give in divided doses if >20 mEq/day.
Intravenous
Severe acute hypokalaemia
Adult: If serum potassium level >2.5 mEq/L, give at a rate not exceeding 10 mEq/hr in a concentration of up to 40 mEq/L. Max dose: 200 mEq/24 hr.
If serum potassium level <2 mEq/L, may infuse at a rate of up to 40 mEq/hr. Continuous cardiac monitoring is essential. Max dose: 400 mEq/24 hr.
Max Dosage: 2-3 mmol potassium/kg body wt in 24 hrs.
Child Dose
Hypokalemia
0.5-2 mEq/kg PO q12hr
Monitor closely: 0.5 mEq/kg/hr IV for 1-2 hr
Renal Dose
N/A
Administration
Should be taken with food.
Disclaimer
The information provided herein are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. Great effort has been placed to provide accurate and comprehensive data. However, Medicart along with its authors and editors make no representations or warranties and specifically disclaim all liability for any medical information provided on the site. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company.