What is potassium chloride?
Potassium is a mineral this is located in lots of ingredients and is wanted for numerous capabilities of your body, in particular the thrashing of your coronary heart.
Potassium chloride is used to save you or to deal with low blood tiers of potassium (hypokalemia). Potassium tiers may be low because of an ailment or from taking sure drugs, or after extended contamination with diarrhea or vomiting.
Warnings
You must now no longer use potassium chloride when you have excessive tiers of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia), or in case you additionally take a “potassium-sparing” diuretic.
To make sure potassium chloride is supporting your circumstance, your blood may also want to be examined frequently. Your coronary heart price will also be checked with the use of an electrocardiograph or ECG (once in a while referred to as an EKG) to degree electric pastime of the coronary heart. This check will assist your health practitioner to decide how long to deal with you with potassium.
Do now no longer omit any scheduled appointments.
Serious facet results of potassium consist of a choppy heartbeat, muscle weak points or limp feeling, intense belly pain, and numbness or tingling on your hands, feet, or mouth. Do now no longer forestall taking this medication without first speaking to your health practitioner.
If you forestall taking this medication suddenly, your circumstance may also end up worse.
Do now no longer crush, chew, break, or suck on an extended-launch pill or pill.
Swallow the tablet whole. Breaking or crushing the tablet may also reason an excessive amount of the drug to be launched at one time. Sucking on a pill can aggravate your mouth or throat. Take potassium chloride with meals or simply after a meal.
Before taking this medication
You must now no longer use potassium chloride in case you are allergic to it, or if: you’ve got excessive tiers of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia); or you’re taking a “potassium-sparing” diuretic (water tablet) together with amiloride, spironolactone, or triamterene.
To make certain this medication is secure for you, inform your health practitioner when you have ever had: a kidney ailment; cirrhosis, or different liver ailment; an adrenal gland disorder; big tissue harm together with an intense burn; intense dehydration; diabetes; coronary heart ailment or excessive blood stress; belly or intestinal bleeding; a blockage on your belly or intestines; or continual diarrhea (together with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s ailment).
It isn’t always recognized whether or not this medication will damage an unborn baby.
Your dose wishes can be distinct in the course of being pregnant. Tell your health practitioner in case you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do now no longer deliver this medication to an infant without scientific recommendation.
How must I take potassium chloride?
Take potassium chloride precisely as prescribed via way of means of your health practitioner. Follow all instructions for your prescription label and study all medicine publications or preparation sheets.
Your health practitioner may also once in a while alternate your dose.
Read and punctiliously comply with any Instructions for Use supplied together with your medication.
Ask your health practitioner or pharmacist in case you do now no longer apprehend those instructions. Take potassium chloride with a complete glass of water.
Take potassium chloride with meals or simply after a meal if this medication upsets your belly. Measure the liquid medication with the dosing syringe supplied, or with a unique dose-measuring spoon or medication cup. If you do now no longer have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Do now no longer crush, chew, or suck on a pill or pill. Sucking at the tablet should aggravate your mouth or throat.
Call your health practitioner when you have a problem swallowing a potassium chloride pill or pill.
You can be capable of dissolving the pill in water or blending the drugs from a pill with tender meals. Carefully comply with your health practitioner’s instructions. Mix the powder shape of this medication with a minimum of four ounces (one-1/2 cup) of bloodless water or fruit juice earlier than taking.
Drink the combination slowly, over five to ten mins in all. To make certain you get the whole dose, upload a touch of extra water to the identical glass, swirl lightly and drink properly away.
To make sure this medication is supporting your circumstance, you can want common blood checks.
You won’t note any alternate on your signs, however, your blood paintings will assist your health practitioner to decide how long to deal with you with potassium chloride.
Your coronary heart feature may also want to be checked with the use of an electrocardiograph or ECG (once in a while referred to as an EKG). Even when you have no signs, checks can assist your health practitioner to decide if this medication is effective.
Your remedy may also consist of a unique diet. Follow the diet regime created for you via way of means of your health practitioner or nutrients counselor. ‘
Get acquainted with the listing of ingredients you must consume or keep away from to assist manipulate your circumstance. Potassium-wealthy ingredients consist of: squash, baked potatoes (pores and skin on), spinach, lentils, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, kidney or army beans, raisins, watermelon, orange juice, bananas, cantaloupe, low-fat milk or yogurt.
Consume handiest the each day quantities encouraged via way of means of your health practitioner or nutrients counselor. Some drugs are made with a shell that isn’t always absorbed or melted withinside the body. Part of this shell may also seem on your stool.
This is ordinary and could now no longer make the drugs much less effective. Store at room temperature far from moisture and heat.
Keep the medicine in a closed container. Detailed Potassium chloride dosage information
What occurs if I omit a dose?
Take the neglected dose as quickly as you remember. Skip the neglected dose if it’s miles nearly time on your subsequent scheduled dose. Do now no longer take greater medication to make up for the neglected dose.
What occurs if I overdose?
Overdose signs may also consist of abnormal heartbeats, chest pain, or muscle weak point.
What to avoid
Avoid taking dietary supplements or the use of different merchandise that include potassium without first asking your health practitioner.
Salt substitutes or low-salt nutritional merchandise frequently include potassium. If you’re taking sure merchandise collectively you can by accident get an excessive amount of potassium.
Read the label of some other medication you’re using to look if it incorporates potassium.
Potassium chloride side effect:
Get emergency scientific assistance when you have symptoms and symptoms of an allergy to potassium chloride: hives; tough breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop the use of this medication and make contact with your health practitioner immediately when you have: intense throat irritation; belly bloating, intense vomiting, intense belly pain; excessive potassium level – nausea, weak point, tingly feeling, chest pain, abnormal heartbeats, lack of movement; or symptoms and symptoms of belly bleeding – bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that seems like espresso grounds. Common potassium chloride facet results may also consist of: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; gas, belly pain; or the arrival of a potassium chloride pill on your stool. This isn’t always a whole listing of facet results and others may also occur. Call your health practitioner for scientific recommendations approximately facet results.
What other drugs will affect potassium chloride?
Tell your health practitioner approximately all of your contemporary drugs and any you begin or forestall the use of, in particular: a diuretic or “water tablet”; or coronary heart or blood stress medicine. This listing isn’t always whole. Other capsules may also engage with potassium chloride, consisting of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and natural merchandise. Not all feasible interactions are indexed in this medication guide.
