potassium chloride (KCl, Klor Con, Kaon-Cl, Slow-K, Micro-K, Klotrix, K Tab, K Dur, Ten-K, Cen-K, Kaochlor, Kay Ciel, K Lor, Kato, Klorvess, Kaon, K Lyte Cl)

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Indications

prevention & treatment of hypokalemia

Contraindications

severe renal impairment
hyperkalemia
severe tissue trauma

Dosage

normal daily requirement
- adults: 40-80 meq/day
- children: 2-3 meq/kg/day
- infants: 2-6 meq/kg/day
intravenous:
- maximum concentration for a peripheral line is 10 meq/100 mL @ 10 meq/hr
- maximum concentration for a central line is 20 meq/100 mL @ 20 meq/hr
- electrocardiogram should be closely monitored when the rate exceeds 20 meq/hr

Tablets:

 6.7 meq  Kaon-Cl
   8 meq  Klor-Con, Slow-K, Micro-K
  10 meq  Kaon-Cl, Klor-Con, Klotrix, K-Tab, K-dur, Ten-K, Micro-K
  20 meq  K-Dur

Liquids:

use liquid for patients with esophageal compression or delayed gastric emptying time
10%: (20 meq/15 mL) Cena-K, Kaochlor, Kay Ciel, Klorvess, Kaon (120 mL, 480 mL, 960 mL)
20%: (40 meq/15 mL) Cena-K, Kaon-Cl (120 mL, 480 mL) Powders:
15 meq/pack K-Lor
20 meq/pack Kato, Kay Ciel K-Lor, Klor-Con, Micro-K LS, Klorvess
25 meq/pack K-Lyte-Cl, Klor-Con

Injection: 2 meq/mL (10 mL, 20 mL)

Pharmacokinetics

well-absorbed after oral administration
eliminated mainly by the kidneys

Adverse effects

common (> 10%)
- diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, epigastric pain, flatulence
less common (1-10%)
- hyperkalemia, bradycardia, dyspnea, weakness, local tissue necrosis with extravasation, pain at site of injection
uncommon (< 1%)
- chest pain, throat pain, abdominal pain, phlebitis, paresthesia, paralysis, confusion, alkalosis
other
- arrhythmia

Drug interactions

potassium-sparing diuretics in combination increase K+ levels
ACE inhibitors in combination increase K+ levels
no convincing evidence that anticholinergics increase risk of GI irritation by KCl

drug interaction(s) of potassium chloride with ACE inhibitors

More general terms

Additional terms

hypokalemia

Component of

References

↑ Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs, Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al eds, 1998
↑ Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug Formulary, 1998
↑ Department of Veterans Affairs, VA National Formulary
↑ Prescriber's Letter 18(10): 2011 Potassium and Anticholinergic Drug Interaction Detail-Document#: http://prescribersletter.com/(5bhgn1a4ni4cyp2tvybwfh55)/pl/ArticleDD.aspx?li=1&st=1&cs=&s=PRL&pt=3&fpt=25&dd=271012&pb=PRL (subscription needed) http://www.prescribersletter.com

Database

[ref1-1] Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs, Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al eds, 1998

[ref2-2] Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug Formulary, 1998

[ref3-3] Department of Veterans Affairs, VA National Formulary

[ref4-4] Prescriber's Letter 18(10): 2011 Potassium and Anticholinergic Drug Interaction Detail-Document#: http://prescribersletter.com/(5bhgn1a4ni4cyp2tvybwfh55)/pl/ArticleDD.aspx?li=1&st=1&cs=&s=PRL&pt=3&fpt=25&dd=271012&pb=PRL (subscription needed) http://www.prescribersletter.com

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potassium chloride (KCl, Klor Con, Kaon-Cl, Slow-K, Micro-K, Klotrix, K Tab, K Dur, Ten-K, Cen-K, Kaochlor, Kay Ciel, K Lor, Kato, Klorvess, Kaon, K Lyte Cl)

Contents

Indications

Contraindications

Dosage

Pharmacokinetics

Adverse effects

Drug interactions

More general terms

Additional terms

Component of

References

Database

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potassium chloride (KCl, Klor Con, Kaon-Cl, Slow-K, Micro-K, Klotrix, K Tab, K Dur, Ten-K, Cen-K, Kaochlor, Kay Ciel, K Lor, Kato, Klorvess, Kaon, K Lyte Cl)

Indications

Contraindications

Dosage

Pharmacokinetics

Adverse effects

Drug interactions

More general terms

Additional terms

Component of

References

Database

Navigation menu

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