Potassium Chloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some of the common questions people ask about Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate. It does not contain all the information that is known about Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you being given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate is for
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate increases levels of potassium in the blood. It is given to patients who have very low potassium levels or who are unable to take tablets. It is also used in digoxin poisoning.
Your doctor will have explained why you are being treated with Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another use. Ask your doctor if you want more information.
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate is not addictive.
Before you are given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate
You may already have been given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate. Your doctor will have considered the situation carefully and decided to use it. However, if any of the following applies to you, tell your doctor immediately.
When you must not use it
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate MUST be diluted before use according to the instructions on the label. If this concentrated solution has not been diluted correctly and mixed thoroughly IT MUST NOT BE USED.
You should not be given Potassium Chloride if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless your doctor says it is safe. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits involved.
You must not be given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate if:
you are sensitive to potassium
have an allergy to any ingredient listed at the end of this leaflet or any other related medicines.
If you have an allergic reaction, you may get a skin rash, hayfever, asthma or feel faint.
You should not be given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate if you have or have had the following medical conditions:
high potassium levels
kidney problems or you pass less urine than is normal
heart disease or abnormal heart beats
adrenal gland problems (e.g. Addison's disease)
tumour on the adrenal cortex
severe burns
dehydration
muscle twitching caused by heat exposure
Before you are given it
You must tell your doctor if you have any of these medical conditions:
low salt diet
sickle cell disease
It may not be safe for you to be given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate if you have any of these conditions.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy at the chemist, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate may interfere with each other. These include:
potassium sparing diuretics (fluid tablets)
some medicines to treat high blood pressure or heart problems such as enalapril and captopril and any other ACE inhibitors, Beta blockers and digitalis glycosides
medicine used to treat diabetes e.g. insulin
medicine to help prevent clotting e.g. heparin
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
sodium bicarbonate
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you are given any Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate.
How Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate will be given
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate will be diluted, mixed thoroughly and then given to you by your doctor or a specially trained nurse.
It will be given by a drip into your bloodstream.
Overdose
The doctor or nurse giving you Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate will be experienced in its use, so it is extremely unlikely that you will be given too much.
However, the first signs of overdose are tingling in the arms and legs, weakness, confusion, and abnormal heart beats.
If these signs occur administration of Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate must be discontinued immediately along with any foods or medicines that contain potassium. Monitoring with an ECG machine will be necessary along with treatment with appropriate injection solutions.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate.
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate helps most people with low potassium levels, but it may have unwanted side-effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
stomach pain
These are all mild side effects of Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to casualty at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
tingling in the arms and legs
muscle weakness
confusion
weakness and heaviness in the legs
abnormal heart beats
pain at the injection site
These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention
Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Some people may get other side effects while being given Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate.
Storage
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate should be kept in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.
Disposal
Ask your pharmacist what to do with any injection that is unused or you find that the expiry date has passed.
Product description
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate is a clear, colourless solution.
The active ingredient is potassium chloride
plus
Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)
Water for Injections
It is available in 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 grams of potassium chloride in 10mL, in Polyamp Duo Fit® ampoules in packs of 50.
