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

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.