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Health

Potassium chloride

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 10.08.2022
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Potassium chloride is a drug that helps stabilize the acid-base balance, and also replenishes the lack of potassium in the body.

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Indications Potassium chloride

Among the indications: hypokalemia (also developed due to diabetes mellitus, treatment with antihypertensive drugs, prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, and in addition due to the intake of certain diuretics, as well as SCS), cardiac glycoside poisoning (treatment and prophylaxis), and in addition to this prevention of arrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

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Release form

Available in the form of iv solution 40 mg / ml; 1 ampoule contains 10 ml of solution. On one blister contains 5 ampoules, in a pack of 2 blister plates. In addition, a special ampoule knife or scarifier is added to the pack.

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Pharmacodynamics

Activates a lot of cytoplasmic enzymes, controls the level of osmotic pressure inside cells, protein synthesis, the movement of amino acids, and in addition, the transmission of nerve impulses and the reduction of skeletal muscles. Potassium ions slow down the heart rate, reduce the activity of contractions, and in addition reduce the automatism, as well as conductivity with excitability of the myocardium. Small dosages allow you to expand coronary vessels, and large ones on the contrary - to narrow.

Potassium helps to increase the level of the substance acetylcholine, and also activates the sympathetic activity within the central nervous system. Has also moderate diuretic properties. Increased potassium levels reduce the risk of possible development of the toxic effect of SG on the heart.

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Pharmacokinetics

Potassium chloride is rapidly and passively absorbed (almost in any quantity), because the concentration of the substance (both food and released from the drug) is higher not in the blood, but in the small intestine. In the area of the large intestine and ileum, potassium is excreted into the lumen according to the scheme of conjugated ion-sodium metabolism, but is excreted from the body with feces (10%). After administration, the distribution of the substance lasts approximately 8 hours: the half-life in the absorption phase is 1.31 hours.

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Dosing and administration

To enter a medicine it is necessary / in. In case of problems with a heart rhythm or hypokalemia, the dose is 1-1.5 g for 4-5 r. / Day; when the heart rate is restored, the dose is reduced. In case of poisoning with cardiac glycosides, the dosage is 2-3 g / day, and in case of severe current it is increased to 5 g. To stop a paroxysmal tachycardia attack, 8-12 g (day 1) is prescribed, and then the dose is reduced to 3-6 in

As a therapeutic-prophylactic against ectopic arrhythmias arising from myocardial infarction, a special polarizing mixture is used: one must take a solution of potassium chloride, as well as a 5-10% solution of dextrose (add insulin in the ratio 1 ED / 3-4 g dextrose in dry form).

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Use Potassium chloride during pregnancy

If necessary, use during pregnancy should evaluate the possible benefits for the patient and correlate it with the risk for the child. The FDA assigned this substance the category C.

During the treatment period, you should not breast-feed your baby.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications: intolerance of drug components, renal failure in acute or chronic form, complete cardiac blockade, therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics. In addition, hyperkalemia, metabolic disorders (such as hypovolemia, as well as acidosis and hyponatremia), exacerbated gastrointestinal diseases, children under the age of 18 (there is no evidence of safety and efficacy).

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Side effects Potassium chloride

Among the main side reactions:

  • organs of the digestive tract: vomiting with nausea, swelling, diarrhea, ulcers on the mucous membrane, abdominal pain, blockage and perforation of the intestine, and bleeding;
  • organs of the National Assembly: muscle weakness, paresthesia, and confusion;
  • others: lowering blood pressure, hyperkalemia, as well as allergies.

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Overdose

Among the manifestations of overdose: the development of hyperkalemia (weakening of muscle tone, arrhythmia, paresthesia, as well as attenuation of AV conduction and cardiac arrest). At the initial stage, hyperkalemia is mainly manifested by an increase in the blood serum concentration of K + - greater than 6 meq / l. Also, there is a sharpening of the T wave, and along with this, the broadening of the QRS complex. Muscle paralysis and cardiac arrest occur when the K + concentration rises to 9-10 meq / L.

Therapy consists of the administration of an oral or intravenous solution of sodium chloride. If necessary, hemodialysis with peritoneal dialysis is performed.

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Interactions with other drugs

Potassium-sparing diuretics (such as spironolactone, as well as amiloride with triamterene), and besides this, ACE inhibitors (such as enalapril and captopril) and NSAIDs increase the risk of hyperkalemia.

Pharmaceutical compound with SG solutions is possible - potassium chloride promotes better tolerability.

Increases the negative dromo- as well as the butmotropic effect of antiarrhythmic drugs.

As an integral part of the polarizing mixture (compound with insulin, as well as dextrose) helps to stabilize the heart rhythm in case of myocardial infarction, and besides this in case of an overdose of SG or ectopic arrhythmia.

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Storage conditions

It is required to keep the medicine in a place closed from moisture, sun rays, and also inaccessible to children. The temperature conditions are 0 / + 30 ° C.

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Shelf life

Potassium chloride is allowed to be used for 3 years from the date of manufacture.

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Attention!

To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Potassium chloride" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.

Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.

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