What Is Potassium Chloride?
Potassium is an essential electrolyte critical for cardiac conduction, neuromuscular function, and cellular metabolism. Potassium chloride supplements restore depleted body potassium stores.
How Potassium Works
Potassium is the primary intracellular cation, maintaining cell membrane potential and enabling electrical activity in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Serum K+ is tightly regulated by Na-K-ATPase pump and renal excretion. Deficiency results in cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and polyuria.
Potassium is the primary intracellular cation, maintaining cell membrane potential and enabling electrical activity in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Serum K+ is tightly regulated by Na-K-ATPase pump and renal excretion. Deficiency results in cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and polyuria.
Indications
- Hypokalemia (serum K+ <3.5 mEq/L) from any cause
- Hypokalemia prevention during loop/thiazide diuretic therapy
- Laxative-induced hypokalemia
- Metabolic alkalosis-related hypokalemia
- Renal tubular acidosis
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (adjunctive)
Dosage and Administration
Hypokalemia Treatment:
- Mild (K+ 3.0-3.4 mEq/L): 20-40 mEq daily in divided doses
- Moderate (K+ 2.5-2.9 mEq/L): 40-60 mEq daily in divided doses
- Severe symptomatic (K+ <2.5 mEq/L): IV potassium (requires ICU monitoring)
Hypokalemia Prevention (diuretic use):
- 20 mEq daily or as directed by serum K+ levels
Administration:
- Oral: with meals to reduce GI irritation
- Extended-release: swallow whole; do not crush/chew
- Dilute liquid formulations in water; drink slowly
- Separate from other medications by 2 hours
Monitoring:
- Recheck serum K+ 2-4 days after dose initiation
- Target K+ 3.5-5.0 mEq/L (normal range)
Clinical Note
Potassium is narrowly therapeutic; serum levels must be monitored closely. IV administration high-risk (can cause fatal hyperkalemia if infused too rapidly). Oral supplementation preferred when feasible. Extended-release formulations safer than immediate-release. Monitor for hyperkalemia risk especially in renal impairment or concurrent ACE inhibitors/ARBs.
Potassium is narrowly therapeutic; serum levels must be monitored closely. IV administration high-risk (can cause fatal hyperkalemia if infused too rapidly). Oral supplementation preferred when feasible. Extended-release formulations safer than immediate-release. Monitor for hyperkalemia risk especially in renal impairment or concurrent ACE inhibitors/ARBs.