What is potassium chloride?
Potassium is a mineral that is found in many foods and is needed for several functions of
your body, especially the beating of your heart.
Potassium chloride is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium
(hypokalemia). Potassium levels can be low as a result of a disease or from taking certain
medicines, or after a prolonged illness with diarrhea or vomiting.
Potassium chloride may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking potassium chloride?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have certain
conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have:
-
high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia);
-
kidney failure;
-
Addison's disease (an adrenal gland disorder);
-
a large tissue injury such as a severe burn;
-
if you are severely dehydrated; or
-
if you are taking a "potassium-sparing" diuretic (water
pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide),
triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide).
Before using potassium chloride, tell your doctor if you are allergic to
any drugs, or if you have:
-
kidney disease;
-
heart disease or high blood pressure;
-
a blockage in your stomach or intestines; or
-
chronic diarrhea (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's
disease).
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take potassium chloride.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether potassium chloride passes into breast milk or if it could harm
a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
How should I take potassium chloride?
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your
doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended.
Mix the powder, granule, or liquid form of this medicine with at least 4 ounces (one-half
cup) of cold water or fruit juice before taking. Drink the mixture slowly, over 5 to 10 minutes in
all. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently
and drink right away.
Do not crush, chew, break, or suck on an extended-release tablet or capsule.
Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be
released at one time. Sucking on a potassium tablet can irritate your mouth or throat.
Take this medication with food or just after a meal.
Your treatment may include a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan
created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the
list of foods you should eat or avoid to help control your condition.
Potassium-rich foods include: squash, baked potatoes (skin on), spinach, lentils, broccoli,
brussels sprouts, zucchini, kidney or navy beans, raisins, watermelon, orange juice, bananas,
cantaloupe, and low-fat milk or yogurt. Consume only the daily amounts recommended by your
doctor or nutrition counselor.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested
often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes
called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor
determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. If you stop
taking potassium suddenly, your condition may become worse.
Store potassium chloride at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep
the medication in a closed container.
What happens if I miss a dose of potassium chloride?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about potassium chloride?
Your pharmacist has information about potassium chloride written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of potassium chloride?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
-
confusion, anxiety, feeling like you might pass out;
-
uneven heartbeat;
-
extreme thirst, increased urination;
-
leg discomfort;
-
muscle weakness or limp feeling;
-
numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet, or around
your mouth;
-
severe stomach pain, ongoing diarrhea or vomiting;
-
black, bloody, or tarry stools; or
-
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild nausea or upset stomach;
-
mild or occasional diarrhea;
-
slight tingling in your hands or feet; or
-
appearance of a potassium chloride tablet in your stool.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about potassium chloride?
You should not use this medication if you have kidney failure, Addison's disease,
severe burns or other tissue injury, if you are dehydrated, if you take certain diuretics (water
pills), or if you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia).
Do not crush, chew, break, or suck on an extended-release tablet or capsule.
Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be
released at one time. Sucking on a potassium tablet can irritate your mouth or throat.
Take this medication with food or just after a meal.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested
often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes
called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor
determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Serious side effects of potassium include uneven heartbeat, muscle weakness or limp
feeling, severe stomach pain, and numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or mouth.
Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. If you stop
taking potassium suddenly, your condition may become worse.
What should I avoid while taking potassium chloride?
Avoid taking potassium supplements or using other products that contain potassium
without first asking your doctor. Salt substitutes or low-salt dietary products often contain
potassium. If you take certain products together you may accidentally get too much potassium.
Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains potassium.
What other drugs will affect potassium chloride?
The following drugs can interact with potassium chloride. Tell your doctor if you are
using any of these:
-
eplerenone (Inspra);
-
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
-
quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release);
-
a bronchodilator such as ipratroprium (Atrovent) or
tiotropium (Spiriva);
-
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril
(Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril
(Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik);
or
-
any type of diuretic (water pill) such as bumetanide
(Bumex), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid
(Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor,
Vasoretic, Zestoretic), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), or torsemide
(Demadex).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with potassium chloride. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter
medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of potassium chloride?
