What Is Potassium Chloride?

The chemical formula is KCl, which is a colorless slender diamond or a cubic crystal, or a small white crystalline powder, which looks like salt, is odorless and tastes salty. Commonly used in additives of low sodium salt and mineral water. Potassium chloride is a commonly used drug for regulating electrolyte balance in clinical practice. It has a definite clinical effect and is widely used in clinical departments.

Potassium chloride drug profile

Dosage form: tablet

Ingredients: The main ingredient of this product is potassium chloride.

Properties: This product is white tablets or sugar-coated tablets.

Indications of potassium chloride function

1. Treatment of hypokalemia caused by various reasons, such as inadequate eating, vomiting, severe diarrhea, application of potassium-releasing diuretics, periodic hypoparalysis of hypokalemia, long-term application of glucocorticoids and supplementation of hypertonicity Glucose, etc.

2. Prevention of hypokalemia When patients have potassium loss, especially if the occurrence of hypokalemia is more harmful to the patient (such as patients using digitalis drugs), preventive potassium supplementation is needed. Severe or chronic diarrhea, long-term use of adrenal corticosteroids, potassium deficiency nephropathy, Bartter syndrome, etc.

3. Digitalis poisoning causes frequent, multi-source premature beats or tachyarrhythmias.

Potassium chloride dosage

Oral potassium salts are used to treat mild hypokalemia or preventative medication. The regular dose for adults is 0.5 to 1 g (6.7 to 13.4 mmol) each time, 2 to 4 times a day, taken after meals, and the dose is adjusted according to the condition. The maximum daily dose for an average adult is 6 g (80 mmol).

Adverse reactions of potassium chloride

1. Oral administration may have symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation, such as nausea, vomiting, pharyngeal discomfort, chest pain (esophageal irritation), abdominal pain, diarrhea, and even peptic ulcers and bleeding. It is more likely to occur on fasting, larger doses, and previous gastrointestinal diseases.

2. Attention should be paid to the occurrence of hyperkalemia when the original renal function is damaged.

Potassium chloride taboo

1. Patients with hyperkalemia.

2. Acute renal insufficiency and chronic renal insufficiency.

Potassium chloride precautions

1. Use with caution when:

(1) Acute dehydration, which can cause decreased urine output and decreased urine K + excretion;

(2) Familial periodic paralysis, potassium supplementation should be given for low potassium paralysis, but high potassium or normal periodic paralysis should be identified;

(3) Chronic or severe diarrhea can cause hypokalemia, but can also cause dehydration and hyponatremia, causing prerenal oliguria;

(4) block arrhythmia, especially when digitalis is used;

(5) Large-scale burns, muscle trauma, severe infections, 24 hours after major surgery, and severe hemolysis. The above conditions can cause hyperkalemia;

(6) Adrenal abnormality syndrome with insufficient mineralocorticoid secretion;

(7) Patients receiving potassium retention diuretics.

2. The following follow-up inspections are required during medication:

(1) blood potassium;

(2) electrocardiogram;

(3) blood magnesium, sodium, and calcium;

(4) indicators of acid-base balance; renal function and urine output;

3. When taking ordinary tablets and sugar-coated tablets, it has a strong stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, so it is best to take it after dissolving into a solution.

Potassium chloride for the elderly

Elderly kidneys have reduced K + clearance, and hyperkalemia is more likely to occur when potassium is used.

Potassium chloride drug interactions

1. Adrenal glucocorticoids, especially those with more obvious mineralocorticoid effects, adrenal mineralocorticoids and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), can promote the excretion of potassium in urine and reduce the efficacy of potassium salts in combination.

2. Anticholinergic drugs can aggravate the gastrointestinal stimulating effect of oral potassium salts, especially potassium chloride.

3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics aggravate the gastrointestinal response of oral potassium salts.

4. When combined with stock blood (30 mmol / l potassium below 10 days, 65 mmol / l potassium above 10 days), potassium-containing drugs and potassium-preserving diuretics, the chance of hyperkalemia will increase, especially kidney Impaired function.

5. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and cyclosporin A can inhibit aldosterone secretion and reduce urinary potassium excretion, so they are prone to hyperkalemia when combined.

6. Heparin can inhibit aldosterone synthesis, reduce urinary potassium excretion, and prone to hyperkalemia when combined. In addition, heparin can increase the chance of gastrointestinal bleeding.

7. Slow-release potassium salt can inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestine.

Pharmacological action of potassium chloride

The normal concentration and difference of potassium ions inside and outside the cell are closely related to some functions of the cell. Potassium participates in the regulation of acid-base balance. The synthesis of sugar, protein, and the conversion of adenosine diphosphate to triphosphate requires a certain amount of potassium. ; Potassium participates in the nerve and its inner organs and between the excitatory processes between neurons, and participates in the formation of nerve terminal transmitters (acetylcholine); potassium content in the heart can affect its activity, heart excitability increases when low potassium, clinical blood potassium Arrhythmias are predominant in patients who are too low; potassium is an ion necessary to maintain normal skeletal muscle tension. Inadequate potassium is manifested as muscle weakness and convulsions. ^[3]