Potassium Chloride
Indications
Potassium Chloride is used for:
Hypokalemia, Electrolyte replenisher
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
Administration
Should be taken with food.
Contra Indications
Hyperchloraemia, severe renal or adrenal insufficiency.
Precautions
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.
Pregnancy-Lactation
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
Interactions
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.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Potassium Chloride :
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.
Mechanism 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.