Formulary
Potassium chloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Potassium chloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Potassium chloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Potassium chloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Prevention of hypokalaemia (patients with normal diet)**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 2-4 g daily in divided doses.
**Electrolyte imbalance**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): Dose dependent on deficit or the daily maintenance requirements.
**Prevention of hypokalaemia (patients with normal diet) for potassium chloride**
- **Child** (By mouth): 1-2 mmol/kg daily; Usual maximum 50 mmol.
**Electrolyte imbalance for potassium chloride**
- **Neonate** (By intravenous infusion): 1-2 mmol/kg daily, dose dependent on deficit or the daily maintenance requirements.
- **Child** (By intravenous infusion): 1-2 mmol/kg daily, dose dependent on deficit or the daily maintenance requirements.
**Potassium depletion for potassium chloride**
- **Neonate** (By mouth): 0.5-1 mmol/kg twice daily, total daily dose may alternatively be given in 3 divided doses, dose to be adjusted according to plasma-potassium concentration.
- **Child** (By mouth): 0.5-1 mmol/kg twice daily, total daily dose may alternatively be given in 3 divided doses, dose to be adjusted according to plasma-potassium concentration.
Cautions
With intravenous use Seek specialist advice in very severe potassium depletion or difficult cases With oral use Cardiac disease; elderly; hiatus hernia ( with modified-release preparations ); history of peptic ulcer ( with modified-release preparations ); intestinal stricture ( with modified-release preparations )
Contraindications
Plasma-potassium concentration above 5 mmol/litre
Side effects
General side-effects: Frequency not known Hyperkalaemia Specific side-effects: Frequency not known With oral use Abdominal cramps; diarrhoea; gastrointestinal disorders; nausea; vomiting
Interactions
**Other interactions (3):**
- Macrogol raises the solubility of medicinal products that are soluble in alcohol and relatively insoluble in water.
- There is a possibility that the absorption of other medicinal products could be transiently reduced during use with Compound Macrogol (see section 4.4).
- Compound Macrogol may result in a potential interactive effect when used with starch-based food thickeners.
Renal impairment
Avoid in severe impairment. Dose adjustments Smaller doses must be used in the prevention of hypokalaemia, to reduce the risk of hyperkalaemia. Monitoring Close monitoring required in renal impairment-high risk of hyperkalaemia.
Medicinal forms
Tablet,Tablet,Solution,Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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