Potassium Chloride
Potassium chloride
K-Dur, Klor-Con, Slow-K, Micro-K, K-Lyte/Cl
Experience
No personal reports yet
No clinical reports yet
Log in to add your own experience.
Problems
No problems yet. Be the first to suggest one.
+ Add a problemTitration strategies
No titration strategies yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Effects
No effects listed yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Relevant anecdote
No anecdotes yet. Share a relevant one.
Relevant Literature
No literature entries yet.
Log in to submit relevant literature.
Summary
Common uses
Hypokalemia0, Prevention of diuretic-induced hypokalemia0
Pharmacy
Starting dose
10-20 mEq PO daily for prevention; treat established hypokalemia per measured deficit, typically 40-100 mEq/d in divided doses; IV 10 mEq/h peripheral, 20 mEq/h central with telemetry
Preparations
8, 10, 20, 25 mEq tablets/capsules (most ER); effervescent and oral solution; IV concentrate (must be diluted)
US FDA Max
IV peripheral 10 mEq/h (40 mEq/L); IV central 20 mEq/h with cardiac monitoring; PO single doses generally ≤40 mEq
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral, IV
Onset
Hours (PO); IV faster but rate-limited
Duration
Variable; depends on ongoing losses
Half-life
Not meaningfully described for an electrolyte; distribution between intra- and extracellular compartments is the relevant kinetic
Bioavailability
60-80% (oral)
Pregnancy
Generally safe at replacement doses; treat the underlying cause of hypokalemia.[citation needed]
Legal status
Rx-only (higher concentrations and IV) and OTC (low-dose supplements) in US
Purported mechanism
Oral and intravenous potassium chloride replenish extracellular and total-body potassium; the chloride salt is preferred in metabolic alkalosis because it simultaneously addresses the typical co-existing chloride and volume deficit.0 Total body potassium is ~98% intracellular, so plasma K+ is a delayed and imperfect surrogate for whole-body status; magnesium repletion is often required for hypokalemia to correct. Rapid IV administration without dilution is a recognized cause of fatal arrhythmia and one of the most well-known medication-error patterns in hospital pharmacy[1].
References
- ↑ FDA Prescribing Information, potassium chloride extended-release tablets, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/018834s029,019402s022,019819s022lbl.pdf