Alkaston

Uses

Potassium chloride is used for drug induced hypokalemia, liver cirrhosis, nausea, vomiting, cholera, diarrhoea, muscular weakness, paralysis, cardiac and congestive heart failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, ulcerative colitis, weakness, anorexia, drowsiness, Cushing's syndrome, pyloric stenosis, low blood pressure etc.

Alkaston is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Dehydration, Dry Mouth, Hypokalemia, Hypotonic Dehydration, Hypovolaemia, Isotonic Dehydration, Markedly Reduced Food Intake, Metabolic Acidosis, Hypodermoclysis, Mild Metabolic acidosis, Mild, moderate Metabolic Acidosis, Ocular edema, Acid-Base Balance, Bowel preparation therapy, Electrolyte replacement, Fluid replacement therapy, Hemodialysis Treatment, Hemofiltration, Parenteral Nutrition, Parenteral rehydration therapy, Plasma Volume Replacement, Urine alkalinization therapy, Fluid and electrolyte maintenance therapy

How Alkaston works

Supplemental potassium in the form of high potassium food or potassium chloride may be able to restore normal potassium levels.

Dosage

Alkaston dosage

Oral:Dosage must be adjusted to the individual needs of each patient.

• Adults: In severe deficiencies 3-6 tablets or 4-8 teaspoonful or 25-50 mmol per day orally in divided doses for some days with fruit juice, sweet or plain water.
• Children: ½-1 teaspoonful twice daily or 1-3 mmol/kg body weight a day in several divided doses.

Patient should take Potassium chloride with meals.

Intravenous:

Severe acute hypokalaemia:

• Adult: If serum potassium level >2.5 mEq/L, give at a rate not exceeding 10 mEq/hr in a concentration of up to 40 mEq/L. Max dose: 200 mEq/24 hr. If serum potassium level <2 mEq/L, may infuse at a rate of up to 40 mEq/hr. Continuous cardiac monitoring is essential. Max dose: 400 mEq/24 hr.

75 mg KCl equivalent to 1 mmol K+

Side Effects

GI ulceration (sometimes with haemorrhage and perforation or with late formation of strictures) following the use of enteric-coated K chloride preparation; hyperkalaemia. Oral: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. IV: Pain or phloebitis; cardiac toxicity.

Toxicity

The administration of oral potassium salts to persons with normal excretory mechanisms for potassium rarely causes serious hyperkalemia. However, if excretory mechanisms are impaired, of if potassium is administered too rapidly intravenously, potentially fatal hyperkalemia can result. It is important to recognize that hyperkalemia is usually asymptomatic and may be manifested only by an increased serum potassium concentration (6.5-8.0 mEq/L) and characteristic electrocardiographic changes (peaking of T-waves, loss of P-wave, depression of S-T segment, and prolongation of the QT interval). Late manifestations include muscle paralysis and cardiovascular collapse from cardiac arrest (9-12 mEq/L).

Precaution

Renal or adrenocortical insufficiency; cardiac disease; acute dehydration; extensive tissue destruction. Pregnancy. Ensure adequate urine output; monitor plasma-potassium and other electrolyte concentrations. Discontinue treatment if severe nausea, vomiting or abdominal distress develops. Accumulation of potassium may occur in renal impairment.

Interaction

Potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ciclosporin and potassium-containing drugs. Antimuscarinics delay gastric emptying time consequently increasing risk of GI adverse effects esp of solid oral dosage forms.

Food Interaction

• Take with a full glass of water.
• Take with food. This reduces gastrointestinal irritation.

Elimination Route

Potassium is a normal dietary constituent and under steady-state conditions the amount of potassium absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract is equal to the amount excreted in the urine.

Elimination Route

Potassium is a normal dietary constituent and, under steady-state conditions, the amount of potassium absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract is equal to the amount excreted in the urine. Potassium depletion will occur whenever the rate of potassium loss through renal excretion and/or loss from the gastrointestinal tract exceeds the rate of potassium intake.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Category C: Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the foetus (teratogenic or embryocidal or other) and there are no controlled studies in women or studies in women and animals are not available. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus.

Contraindication

Hyperchloraemia, severe renal or adrenal insufficiency.

Storage Condition

Intravenous: Store at 15-30° C.

Oral: Store below 30° C.

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here Alkaston