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potassium chloride
Cena-K, K + 10, Kaochlor 10%*, Kaochlor S-F 10%*, Kaon-Cl, Kaon-Cl 20%*, Kay-Cee-L§, Kay Ciel*, K + Care, K-Dur, K-Lease, K-Lor, Klor-Con, Klor-Con/25, Klorvess, Klotrix, K-Lyte/Cl, K-Norm, K-Tab, Micro-K Extencaps, Rum-K, Slow-K, Ten-K

Pregnancy Risk Category C

How supplied
Tablets (controlled-release):
6.7 mEq (500 mg), 8 mEq (600 mg), 10 mEq (750 mg), 20 mEq (1,500 mg)
Tablets (film-coated):
2.5 mEq (200 mg), 8 mEq (600 mg), 10 mEq (750 mg)
Capsules (controlled-release):
8 mEq (600 mg), 10 mEq (750 mg)
Oral liquid:
10% (20 mEq/15 ml), 15% (30 mEq/15 ml), 20% (40 mEq/15 ml)
Powder for oral use:
15-mEq packet, 20-mEq packet, 25-mEq packet, 25-mEq dose
Injection:
20-mEq, 40-mEq ampules; additive syringes containing 30-mEq or 40-mEq; 10-mEq, 20-mEq, 30-mEq, 40-mEq, 60-mEq, 100-mEq, 200-mEq, 400-mEq, or 1,000-mEq vials

Action
Replaces potassium and maintains potassium level.

Indications & dosage
Hypokalemia--

Adults:
40 to 100 mEq P.O. daily in three or four divided doses for treatment; 10 to 20 mEq for prevention. Further dosage based on serum potassium level.
Children:
3 mEq/kg daily. Total daily dose not to exceed 40 mEq/m2.
Use I.V. route only when oral replacement isn't feasible or when hypokalemia is life-threatening. If serum potassium level is less than 2 mEq/ml, maximum infusion rate is 40 mEq/hour, maximum infusion concentration is 80 mEq/L, and maximum 24-hour dose is 400 mEq. If serum potassium level is greater than 2 mEq/ml, maximum infusion rate is 10 mEq/hour, maximum infusion concentration is 40 mEq/L, and maximum 24-hour dose is 200 mEq. For routine supplementation, usual dose is 10 to 20 mEq hourly in concentrations of 40 mEq/L or less.

Adverse reactions
Signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia--

CNS:
paresthesia of extremities, listlessness, mental confusion, weakness or heaviness of limbs, flaccid paralysis.
CV:
arrhythmias, heart block, possible cardiac arrest, ECG changes, hypotension, postinfusion phlebitis.
GI:
nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Metabolic:
hyperkalemia.
Respiratory:
respiratory paralysis.

Interactions
Drug-drug.
ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics: risk of hyperkalemia. Use with extreme caution.

Effects on diagnostic tests
None reported.

Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment with oliguria, anuria, or azotemia; with untreated Addison's disease; or acute dehydration, heat cramps, hyperkalemia, hyperkalemic form of familial periodic paralysis, or other conditions associated with extensive tissue breakdown.

Nursing considerations

I.V. administration

Patient teaching

*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine.  †Canada  ‡Australia  §U.K.  OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING

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