Potassium Chloride

Prescription

Brand names: Potassium Chloride

Dosage Form

Tablet

Route

ORAL

Manufacturer

Epic Pharma, LLC

About This Medication

11 DESCRIPTION Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets, USP are a solid oral dosage form of potassium chloride. Each contains 600 mg or 750 mg of potassium chloride equivalent to 8 mEq or 10 mEq of potassium in a wax matrix tablet. Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets, USP are an electrolyte replenisher. The chemical name is potassium chloride, and the structural formula is KCl. Potassium chloride, USP is a white, granular powder or colorless crystals. It is odorless and has a saline taste. Its solutions are neutral to litmus. It is freely soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. Inactive Ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydrogenated vegetable oil. The film coating contains lecithin, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc and titanium dioxide. FDA approved dissolution test specifications differ from USP.

Active Ingredients

Ingredient	Strength
Potassium Chloride	-

Indications & Usage

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets are indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of hypokalemia with or without metabolic alkalosis, in patients for whom dietary management with potassium-rich foods or diuretic dose reduction is insufficient. Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets are a potassium salt, indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of hypokalemia with or without metabolic alkalosis in patients for whom dietary management with potassium-rich foods or diuretic dose reduction is insufficient. (1)

How It Works

12.1 Mechanism of Action The potassium ion is the principal intracellular cation of most body tissues. Potassium ions participate in a number of essential physiological processes including the maintenance of intracellular tonicity, the transmission of nerve impulses, the contraction of cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle and the maintenance of normal renal function. The intracellular concentration of potassium is approximately 150 to 160 mEq per liter. The normal adult plasma concentration is 3.5 to 5 mEq per liter. An active ion transport system maintains this gradient across the plasma membrane. Potassium is a normal dietary constituent and under steady state conditions the amount of potassium absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract is equal to the amount excreted in the urine. The usual dietary intake of potassium is 50 to 100 mEq per day.

Dosage & Administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Monitor serum potassium and adjust dosages accordingly (2.1) If serum potassium is less than 2.5 mEq/L, use intravenous potassium instead of oral supplementation (2.1) Take with meals and with a glass of water or other liquid. Swallow tablets whole without crushing, chewing or sucking. (2.1) Treatment of hypokalemia : Doses range from 40 to 100 mEq/day in divided doses. Limit doses to 40 mEq per dose. (2.2) Prevention of hypokalemia : Typical dose is 20 mEq per day. (2.2) 2.1 Administration and Monitoring If serum potassium concentration is less than 2.5 mEq/L, use intravenous potassium instead of oral supplementation. Monitoring Monitor serum potassium and adjust dosages accordingly. Monitor serum potassium periodically during maintenance therapy to ensure potassium remains in desired range. The treatment of potassium depletion, particularly in the presence of cardiac disease, renal disease, or acidosis, requires careful attention to acid-base balance, volume status, electrolytes, including magnesium, sodium, chloride, phosphate, and calcium, electrocardiograms, and the clinical status of the patient. Correct volume status, acid-base balance, and electrolyte deficits as appropriate. Administration Take potassium chloride extended-release tablets with meals and with a glass of water or other liquid. Do not take potassium chloride extended-release tablets on an empty stomach because of its potential for gastric irritation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Swallow tablets whole without crushing, chewing or sucking. 2.2 Dosing Dosage must be adjusted to the individual needs of each patient. Dosages greater than 40 mEq per day should be divided such that no more than 40 mEq is given in a single dose. Treatment of Hypokalemia: Typical dose range is 40 to 100 mEq per day. Maintenance or Prophylaxis: Typical dose range is 20 mEq per day.

Side Effects Overview

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions are nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain/discomfort and diarrhea. (6) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Epic Pharma, LLC at 1-888-374-2791 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch The following adverse reactions have been identified with use of oral potassium salts. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The most common adverse reactions to oral potassium salts are nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain/discomfort, and diarrhea. There have been reports hyperkalemia and of upper and lower gastrointestinal condition including obstruction, bleeding, ulceration, perforation. Skin rash has been reported rarely.

Warnings & Precautions

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Gastrointestinal Irritation: Take with meals (5.1) 5.1 Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Solid oral dosage forms of potassium chloride can produce ulcerative and/or stenotic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly if the drug maintains contact with the gastrointestinal mucosa for prolonged periods. Consider the use of liquid potassium in patients with dysphagia, swallowing disorders, or severe gastrointestinal motility disorders. If severe vomiting, abdominal pain, distention, or gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, discontinue potassium chloride extended-release tablets and consider possibility of ulceration, obstruction or perforation. Potassium chloride extended-release tablets should not be taken on an empty stomach because of its potential for gastric irritation [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ] .

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Potassium chloride is contraindicated in patients on triamterene and amiloride. Concomitant use with triamterene and amiloride (4)

Pharmacokinetics

12.3 Pharmacokinetics The potassium chloride in potassium chloride extended-release tablets is completely absorbed before it leaves the small intestine. The wax matrix is not absorbed and is excreted in the feces; in some instances the empty matrices may be noticeable in the stool. When the bioavailability of the potassium ion from the potassium chloride extended-release tablets is compared to that of a true solution the extent of absorption is similar. The extended-release properties of potassium chloride extended-release tablets are demonstrated by the finding that a significant increase in time is required for renal excretion of the first 50% of the potassium chloride extended-release tablets dose as compared to the solution. Increased urinary potassium excretion is first observed 1 hour after administration of potassium chloride extended-release tablets, reaches a peak at approximately 4 hours, and extends up to 8 hours. Mean daily steady-state plasma levels of potassium following daily administration of potassium chloride extended-release tablets cannot be distinguished from those following administration of potassium chloride solution or from control plasma levels of potassium ion. Specific Populations Cirrhotics Based on publish literature, the baseline corrected serum concentrations of potassium measured over 3 hours after administration in cirrhotic subjects who received an oral potassium load rose to approximately twice that of normal subjects who received the same load.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets are indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of hypokalemia with or without metabolic alkalosis, in patients for whom dietary management with potassium-rich foods or diuretic dose reduction is insufficient. Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets are a potassium salt, indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of hypokalemia with or without metabolic alkalosis in patients for whom dietary management with potassium-rich foods or diuretic dose reduction is insufficient. (1)

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Monitor serum potassium and adjust dosages accordingly (2.1) If serum potassium is less than 2.5 mEq/L, use intravenous potassium instead of oral supplementation (2.1) Take with meals and with a glass of water or other liquid. Swallow tablets whole without crushing, chewing or sucking. (2.1) Treatment of hypokalemia : Doses range from 40 to 100 mEq/day in divided doses. Limit doses to 40 mEq per dose. (2.2) Prevention of hypokalemia : Typical dose is 20 mEq …

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Gastrointestinal Irritation: Take with meals (5.1) 5.1 Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Solid oral dosage forms of potassium chloride can produce ulcerative and/or stenotic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly if the drug maintains contact with the gastrointestinal mucosa for prolonged periods. Consider the use of liquid potassium in patients with dysphagia, swallowing disorders, or severe gastrointestinal motility disorders. If severe vomiting, abdominal pain, distention, or gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, discontinue potassium chloride extended-release tablets and consider possibility of …

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Potassium chloride is contraindicated in patients on triamterene and amiloride. Concomitant use with triamterene and amiloride (4)

Potassium Chloride is a prescription medication. You will need a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

Similar Tablet Products

Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine Maleate

Diclofenac Sodium/Misoprostol

Isosorbide Dinitrate And Hydralazine …

Voxelotor

Arnica Montana Whole, Copper, …

Sotagliflozin

Browse all Tablet products →

References & Data Sources

• DailyMed — Potassium Chloride drug label (National Library of Medicine)
• openFDA — Potassium Chloride label data (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)
• RxNorm — RXCUI 312529 (NLM Normalized Drug Names)
• NDC Directory — Potassium Chloride (FDA National Drug Code)

Medical Disclaimer

The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medication.

Data sources: DailyMed (NLM), openFDA, MFDS