Generic name: potassium chloride [ poe-TASS-ee-um ]
Brand names: Kal Potassium 99, Klor-Con, K-Tab
Drug class:Minerals and electrolytes
What is potassium chloride?
Potassium is a mineral that is found in many foods and is needed for several functions of your body, especially the beating of your heart.
Potassium chloride is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia).
Potassium levels can be low as a result of a disease or from taking certain medicines, or after a prolonged illness with diarrhea or vomiting.
Warnings
You should not use potassium chloride if you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia), or if you also take a "potassium-sparing" diuretic.
To be sure potassium chloride is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Serious side effects of potassium include uneven heartbeat, muscle weakness or limp feeling, severe stomach pain, and numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or mouth.
Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking this medicine suddenly, your condition may become worse.
Do not crush, chew, break, or suck on an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Sucking on a tablet can irritate your mouth or throat. Take potassium chloride with food or just after a meal.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use potassium c...
