Coughsodex
Coughsodex Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
Ammonium chloride is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4Cl. It is highly soluble in water producing mildly acidic solutions.
Systemic acidifier. In liver ammonium chloride is converted into urea with the liberation of hydrogen ions ( which lowers the pH) and chloride.
Pseudoephedrine is both an α-and β-adrenergic receptor agonist. It causes vasoconstriction via direct stimulation of α-adrenergic receptors of the respiratory mucosa. It also directly stimulates β-adrenergic receptors causing bronchial relaxation, increased heart rate and contractility.
Like ephedrine, pseudoephedrine releasing norepinephrine from its storage sites, an indirect effect. This is its main and direct mechanism of action. The displaced noradrenaline is released into the neuronal synapse where it is free to activate the postsynaptic adrenergic receptors.
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine that activates adrenergic receptors, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and causing bronchodilation. The therapeutic window is wide as patients can be given doses of 5mg up to 50mg. Patients should be counselled regarding the pressor effects of sympathomimetic amines and the risk of tachyphylaxis.
Ipecac is obtained from the plant Cephaelis ipecacuanha and contains a number of emetic alkaloids including emetine and cephaeline. Ipecac was approved by Health Canada as an OTC but all those products are now discontinued. The FDA does not have currently any approved product containing ipecac, however, ipecac as an ingredient is accepted to be sold over the counter in packages of 1 fluid ounce (30 ml) for the emergency use to cause vomiting in poisoning.
An effective and safe dose of ipecac may cause vomiting within 20 minutes of the administration. In prospective studies with children, the mean time to vomit was reported to be of 21.7 minutes.
Potassium bicarbonate is a white, crystalline, slightly alkaline and salty substance. It is produced by the passage of carbon dioxide through an aqueous potassium carbonate solution. It is used in medicine as an antacid. It is registered in the FDA under the section of suitable, safe and effective ingredients for OTC antacids. This FDA denomination classifies potassium bicarbonate as a GRAS ingredient.
Potassium is the principal intracellular cation in most body tissues. The concentration of potassium ions is essential to conduct nerve impulses in specialized tissues like brain, heart and skeletal muscle, as well as to maintain normal renal function, acid-base balance, and cellular metabolic functions. The use of compounds containing bicarbonate is showed to produce the release of CO2. This effect has been one of the problems of the use of potassium bicarbonate as it can cause eructation.
When Potassium Citrate is given orally, the metabolism of absorbed citrate produces an alkaline load. The induced alkaline load in turn increases urinary pH and raises urinary citrate by augmenting citrate clearance without measurably altering ultrafilterable serum citrate. Thus, Potassium Citrate therapy appears to increase urinary citrate principally by modifying the renal handling of citrate, rather than by increasing the filtered load of citrate. The increased filtered load of citrate may play some role, however, as in small comparisons of oral citrate and oral bicarbonate, citrate had a greater effect on urinary citrate.
In addition to raising urinary pH and citrate, Potassium Citrate increases urinary potassium by approximately the amount contained in the medication. In some patients, Potassium Citrate causes a transient reduction in urinary calcium.
The changes induced by Potassium Citrate produce urine that is less conducive to the crystallization of stoneforming salts (calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and uric acid). Increased citrate in the urine, by complexing with calcium, decreases calcium ion activity and thus the saturation of calcium oxalate. Citrate also inhibits the spontaneous nucleation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate (brushite).
The increase in urinary pH also decreases calcium ion activity by increasing calcium complexation to dissociated anions. The rise in urinary pH also increases the ionization of uric acid to the more soluble urate ion. Potassium Citrate therapy does not alter the urinary saturation of calcium phosphate, since the effect of increased citrate complexation of calcium is opposed by the rise in pH-dependent dissociation of phosphate. Calcium phosphate stones are more stable in alkaline urine.
In the setting of normal renal function, the rise in urinary citrate following a single dose begins by the first hour and lasts for 12 hours. With multiple doses the rise in citrate excretion reaches its peak by the third day and averts the normally wide circadian fluctuation in urinary citrate, thus maintaining urinary citrate at a higher, more constant level throughout the day. When the treatment is withdrawn, urinary citrate begins to decline toward the pre-treatment level on the first day.
The rise in citrate excretion is directly dependent on the Potassium Citrate dosage. Following long-term treatment, Potassium Citrate at a dosage of 60 mEq/day raises urinary citrate by approximately 400 mg/day and increases urinary pH by approximately 0.7 units.
In patients with severe renal tubular acidosis or chronic diarrheal syndrome where urinary citrate may be very low (<100 mg/day), Potassium Citrate may be relatively ineffective in raising urinary citrate. A higher dose of Potassium Citrate may therefore be required to produce a satisfactory citraturic response. In patients with renal tubular acidosis in whom urinary pH may be high, Potassium Citrate produces a relatively small rise in urinary pH.
Potassium citrate induces changes in the urine which renders urine less susceptible to the formation of crystals and stones from salts e.g. calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and uric acid. Increased citrate levels in the urine will make complexation with calcium which decrease the calcium ion activity and decrease the chance for the formation of calcium phosphate crystals.Citrate also inhibits the spontaneous nucleation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.
Terpin hydrate is an expectorant, commonly used to loosen mucus and ease congestion in patients presenting with acute or chronic bronchitis, and related pulmonary conditions. It is derived from sources such as turpentine, oregano, thyme and eucalyptus. It was popular in the United States since the late nineteenth century, but was removed from marketed medications in the 1990s after FDA stated that "based on evidence currently available, there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients". Elixirs of terpin hydrate are still available to patients as prescription medications to be prepared by specialty compounding pharmacies.
It acts to facilitate the removal of mucus from the respiratory tract. It prevents the exacerbation of excessive mucus production and secretion due to airway bacterial or viral infections, asthma or chronic bronchitis. Expectorants like terpin hydrate change mucus consistency and make coughing more productive.
Trade Name | Coughsodex |
Generic | Ammonium Chloride + Chlorpheniramine (Maleate) + Ephedrine + Ipecac + Menthol + Potassium Bicarbonate + Potassium Citrate + Potassium Guaiacolsulphonate + Senega + Terpin Hydrate |
Weight | 25mg/5ml, 5mg/5ml, 025ml/5ml, 1mg/5ml, 0.1mg/5ml, 05ml/5ml, 10mg/5ml |
Type | Syrup |
Therapeutic Class | |
Manufacturer | Helicon Pharmaceutek Pakistan (pvt) Ltd, |
Available Country | Pakistan |
Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
- Expectorant in cough syrups.
- The ammonium ion (NH4+) in the body plays an important role in the maintenance of acid-base balance. The kidney uses ammonium (NH4+) in place of sodium (Na+) to combine with fixed anions in maintaining acid-base balance, especially as a homeostatic compensatory mechanism in metabolic acidosis. The therapeutic effects of Ammonium Chloride depend upon the ability of the kidney to utilize ammonia in the excretion of an excess of fixed anions and the conversion of ammonia to urea by the liver, thereby liberating hydrogen (H+) and chloride (Cl–) ions into the extracellular fluid. Ammonium Chloride Injection, USP, after dilution in isotonic sodium chloride injection, may be indicated in the treatment of patients with: (1) hypochloremic states and (2) metabolic alkalosis.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, especially the nasal mucosa, sinuses and eustachian tube. It is used for the symptomatic relief of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), vasomotor rhinitis, the common cold, influenza (flu) and ear congestion caused by ear inflammation or infection. Pseudoephedrine can also be used as a bronchodilator.
Pseudoephedrine is a stereoisomer of Ephedrine with similar but less potent pharmacological activity. It has nasal and bronchial decongestant activity.
Ipecac is an emetic agent used to induce vomiting in poisoning.
Ipecac is indicated as an emetic agent for the induction of vomiting in poisoning victims who ingested systemic poison in order to prevent absorption of the chemicals through the gastrointestinal tract. In low doses, ipecac was also used as an expectorant.
Reports have suggested that ipecac was vastly used in patients with eating disorders to produce vomiting.
Potassium bicarbonate is an ingredient used as an antacid or to treat hypokalemia.
Potassium bicarbonate is used as an antacid, electrolyte replenisher and potassium supplement. It can also be used as an excipient in drug formulations. An antacid is a medication used to neutralize gastric acid in a short timeframe after ingestion and the effect is soon overcome by meal-stimulated acid secretion.
Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA) With Calcium Stones: Potassium citrate is used for the management of renal tubular acidosis
Hypocitraturic Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis Of Any Etiology: Potassium citrate is used for the management of Hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis
Uric Acid Lithiasis With Or Without Calcium Stones: Potassium citrate is used for the management of Uric acid lithiasis with or without calcium stones
Terpin hydrate is an expectorant used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, COPD, and infectious or inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Terpin hydrate is used in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Coughsodex is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Allergic Reaction, Allergic cough, Common Cold, Cough, Cough caused by Common Cold, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Metabolic Alkalosis, Nasal Congestion, Nasal Congestion Due to Allergic Rhinitis, Productive cough, Rhinorrhoea, Sneezing, Bronchial congestion, Dry cough, Excess mucus or phlegm, Hypochloremic state, Airway secretion clearance therapy, Bronchodilation, Parenteral rehydration therapy, Weight Loss, PotassiumAllergic Disorder, Bronchial Asthma, Common Cold, Cough, Depression, Fever, General Anesthesia Induced Hypotension, Headache, Joint Pain, Myasthenia Gravis, Narcolepsy, Nasal Congestion, Rhinorrhoea, Sore Throat, Dry coughAllergic cough, Bronchitis, Cough, Cough caused by Common Cold, Rhinorrhoea, Sore Throat, Airway secretion clearance therapyArrhythmias Cardiac caused by Hypokalemia, Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hypocitraturia, Hypokalemia, Ketoacidosis caused by Hypokalemia, Kidney Stones, Neuromuscular Disorders caused by Hypokalemia, Uric Acid Stones, Calcium oxalate calculi Renal CalculiAcidosis, Renal Tubular, Bowel preparation therapy, Constipation, Hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, Kidney Stones, Metabolic Acidosis, Uremia, Uric Acid Nephrolithiasis, Chronic metabolic acidosis, Uric acid lithiasis, LaxativeCough caused by Common Cold, Coughing caused by Bronchitis, Rhinorrhoea, Airway secretion clearance therapy
How Coughsodex works
Ammonium chloride increases acidity by increasing the amount of hydrogen ion concentrations.
Ammonium chloride can be used as an expectorant due to its irritative action on the bronchial mucosa. This effect causes the production of respiratory tract fluid which in order facilitates the effective cough.
Ephedrine is a direct and indirect sympathomimetic amine. Ephedrine activates adrenergic α and β-receptors as well as inhibiting norepinephrine reuptake, and increasing the release of norepinephrine from vesicles in nerve cells. These actions combined lead to larger quantities of norepinephrine present in the synapse, for longer periods of time, increasing stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedrine's stimulation of α-1 receptors causes constriction of veins and a rise in blood pressure, stimulation of β-1 adrenergic receptors increase cardiac chronotropy and inotropy, stimulation of β-2 adrenergic receptors causes bronchodilation.
The emetic components of ipecac, emetine and cephaeline, act centrally and locally in the gastrointestinal tract to cause vomiting. The mechanism by which ipecac performs his effect is by irritating the stomach lining and chemically stimulating the chemoreceptor trigger zone.
The antacid potential of potassium bicarbonate is attained by increasing the gastrointestinal pH by neutralizing hydrochloric acid. The increase in pH results in suppression of the action of pepsin which is the enzyme that exacerbates ulceration due to the presence of acid.
After oral administration of potassium citrate, its metabolism yields alkaline load. Potassium Citrate therapy appears to increase urinary citrate mainly by modifying the renal handling of citrate, rather than by increasing the filtered load of citrate. In addition to raising urinary pH and citrate, Potassium Citrate increases urinary potassium by approximately the amount contained in the medication. In some patients, Potassium Citrate causes a transient reduction in urinary calcium.
Terpin hydrate improves mucociliary function by working directly on the bronchial secretory cells in the lower respiratory tract to liquify and facilitate the elimination of bronchial secretionsas well as exerting a weak antiseptic effect on the pulmonary parenchyma. It is thought to increase the amount of fluid in the respiratory tract, which increases the flow and clearance of local irritants and as well as reducing the viscosity of mucus .
Dosage
Coughsodex dosage
As a decongestant and symptomatic treatment for upper respiratory tract infections the recommended dose is:
Adults: 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours, up to maximum of 240 mg in 24 hours
Children:
- 6-12 years of age: 1/2 tablet every 4 to 6 hours daily
- 2-5 years of age: 1/4 tablet every 4 to 6 hours daily
- Less than 2 years of age: This drug is not advised unless specifically recommended by a physician.
Dosing Instructions: Treatment with extended release potassium citrate should be added to a regimen that limits salt intake (avoidance of foods with high salt content and of added salt at the table) and encourages high fluid intake (urine volume should be at least two liters per day). Theobjectiveof treatment with Potassium Citrate is to provide Potassium Citrate in sufficient dosage to restore normal urinary citrate (greater than 320 mg/day and as close to the normal mean of 640 mg/day as possible), and to increase urinary pH to a level of 6.0 or 7.0.
Monitor serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride andcarbon dioxide), serum creatinine and complete blood counts every four months and more frequently in patients with cardiac disease, renal disease or acidosis. Perform electrocardiograms periodically. Treatment should be discontinued if there ishyperkalemia, a significant rise in serum creatinine or a significant fall in blood hemocrit orhemoglobin.
Severe Hypocitraturia: In patients with severe hypocitraturia (urinary citrate <150 mg/day), therapy should be initiated at a dosage of 60 mEq/day (30 mEq two times/day or 20 mEq three times/day with meals or within 30 minutes after meals or bedtime snack). Twenty-four hour urinary citrate and/or urinary pH measurements should be used to determine the adequacy of the initial dosage and to evaluate the effectiveness of any dosage change. In addition, urinary citrate and/or pH should be measured every four months. Doses of Potassium Citrate greater than 100 mEq/day have not been studied and should be avoided.
Mild To Moderate Hypocitraturia: In patients with mild to moderate hypocitraturia (urinary citrate > 150 mg/day) therapy should be initiated at 30 mEq/day (15 mEq two times/day or 10 mEq three times/day within 30 minutes after meals or bedtime snack). Twenty-four hour urinary citrate and/or urinary pH measurements should be used to determine the adequacy of the initial dosage and to evaluate the effectiveness of any dosage change. Doses of Potassium Citrate greater than 100 mEq/day have not been studied and should be avoided.
Side Effects
Serious adverse effects associated with the use of Pseudoephedrine are rare. Symptoms of central nervous system excitation may occur, including sleep disturbances and, rarely, hallucinations have been reported. Skin rashes, with or without irritation, have occasionally been reported.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain may occur. Taking it after meals will help prevent these side effects. An empty tablet shell may appear in your stool. This is harmless because your body has already absorbed the medication.
This drug may cause serious stomach or intestinal problems (e.g., bleeding, blockage, puncture). This medication may cause high potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia). A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
Toxicity
LD50 "Rat" after oral administration is: 1650 mg/kg. Overdosage of Ammonium Chloride has resulted in a serious degree of metabolic acidosis, disorientation, confusion and coma. If metabolic acidosis occur following overdosage, the administration of an alkalinizing solution such as sodium bicarbonate or sodium lactate will serve to correct the acidosis.
Patients administering Ammonium chloride should be watched to the signs of ammonia toxicity including (pallor, sweating, irregular breathing, bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, local and general twitching, tonic convulsions and coma). It should be used with caution in patients with high total CO2 and buffer base secondary to primary respiratory acidosis. Intravenous administration should be slow to avoid local irritation and toxic effects.
Patients experiencing an overdose of ephedrine will present with rapidly increasing blood pressure. Manage overdose with blood pressure monitoring, and possibly the administration of parenteral antihypertensives. The LD50 in mice after oral administration is 785mg/kg, after intraperitoneal administration if 248mg/kg, and after subcutaneous administration is 425mg/kg.
An overdose of an ipecac preparation may cause serious poisoning. If emesis is not provoked after two doses of ipecac, a gastric lavage is recommended. The overdose of the components such as emetine is reported to cause the onset of myopathy. Chronic use of this drug has been indicated to produce muscle weakness, waddling gait, dyspnea, left atrial enlargement and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.
Potassium bicarbonate does not contain any toxic chemicals and it is not listed as a carcinogenic or a potential carcinogen. Potassium bicarbonate is also considered safe in pregnancy as the current data do not suggest a teratogenic potential or any developmental toxicity.
LD50 (dog): Intravenous 176 mg/kg.
Overdose can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Precaution
Although Pseudoephedrine has virtually no pressor effects in normotensive patients, it should be used with caution in patients suffering mild to moderate hypertension. As with other sympathomimetic agents, Pseudoephedrine should be used with caution in patients with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, elevated intraocular pressure and prostatic enlargement. Caution should be exercised when using the product in the presence of severe hepatic impairment or moderate to severe renal impairment.
This medication should not be used ifpatient have (Addison's disease), current bladder infection, uncontrolled diabetes, severe heart disease (e.g., recent heart attack, heart damage), certain stomach/intestinal problems (diabetic gastroparesis, conditions decreasing gut movement, peptic ulcer, blockage), severe kidney disease (e.g., inability to make urine), potassium-restricted diet, high potassium levels, severe loss of body water (dehydration).
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: low calcium levels, severe diarrhea, heart problems (e.g., irregular heartbeat, heart failure), kidney disease, stomach/gut problems (e.g., irritable bowel), severe tissue damage (e.g., severe burns). Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
Volume of Distribution
Data not found.
Oral ephedrine has an average volume of distribution of 215.6L.
The volume of distribution is thought to be large based on the prolonged excretion.
Elimination Route
Completely absorbed within 3–6 h. In healthy persons, absorption of ammonium chloride given by mouth was practically complete. Only 1 to 3% of the dose was recovered in the feces.
Oral ephedrine reaches an average Cmax of 79.5ng/mL, with a Tmax of 1.81h, and a bioavailability of 88%.
The main components of ipecac are rapidly absorbed from the GI tract, this absorption depends on the amount of emesis produced by the administered dose. The peak plasma concentration of 10-16 ng/ml is attained 20 minutes after first administration. The bioavailability of ipecac is reduced over time from 67-11% after 5-60 minutes of administration.
Potassium bicarbonate intake is done mainly in the small intestine in which approximately 90% of the potassium will be absorbed by passive diffusion.
Half Life
Unknown
Oral ephedrine has a plasma elimination half life of approximately 6 hours, but there is a large degree of inter-patient variability.
The effect of ipecac is done in about 20 minutes and the elimination of the little-absorbed dose is reported to be very rapid. Thus, the half-life is thought to be of about 0.5-1 hour.
Some reports have shown that after absorption, most body potassium exchanges rapidly with a half-life of less than 7 hours.
Clearance
Data not found.
Oral ephedrine has a clearance of 23.3L/h but there is a high degree of inter-patient variability.
The urinary excretion of the main components of ipecac accounts for 75% of the administered dose 48 hours after initial administration.
Elimination Route
Excretion: Urine
Ephedrine is mainly eliminated in the urine. Approximately 60% is eliminated as the unmetabolized parent compound, 13% as benzoic acid conjugates, and 1% as 1,2-dihydroxypropylbenzene.
Due to the emetic function, even 76% of the administered dose is vomited. From the absorbed dose, the elimination from plasma is relatively rapid. In some clinical trials, the alkaloids were not observed in plasma 6 hours after administration. When the patient does not vomit any part of the administered dose, there could be traces in plasma after 24 hours. The component alkaloids are eliminated via the bile and urine as it has been observed a persistence in urine after chronic administration. Biliary and urinary excretion of ipecac corresponds to 57.5% and 16.5% of the administered dose respectively. From the excreted dose, unchanged cephaeline accountd for 42.4% of the eliminated dose in feces.
Approximately 90% of the exogenous potassium consumed is lost in the urine while the other 10% is excreted in feces and a very small amount can be found in the sweat. The excreted potassium is freely filtered by the glomerulus of the kidney.
Urinary; less than 5% unchanged.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use
Although Pseudoephedrine has been in widespread use for many years without apparent ill consequence, there are no specific data on its use during pregnancy. Caution should therefore be exercised by balancing the potential benefit of treatment to the mother against any possible hazards to the developing foetus. Pseudoephedrine is excreted in breast milk in small amounts but the effect of this on breast-fed infants is not known.
Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. It is also not known whether Potassium Citrate can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Potassium Citrate should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Nursing Mothers: The normal potassium ion content of human milk is about 13 mEq/L. It is not known if Potassium Citrate has an effect on this content. Potassium Citrate should be given to a woman who is breast feeding only if clearly needed.
Contraindication
Pseudoephedrine is contraindicated in-
- Hypersensitivity of individuals to this drug
- Severe hypertension and coronary artery disease
- Concurrent use of Mono Amine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) drugs
Potassium Citrate is contraindicated:
- In patients with hyperkalemia (or who have conditions pre-disposing them to hyperkalemia), as a further rise in serum potassium concentration may produce cardiac arrest. Such conditions include: chronic renal failure, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, acute dehydration, strenuous physical exercise in unconditioned individuals, adrenal insufficiency, extensive tissue breakdown or the administration of a potassium-sparing agent (such as triamterene, spironolactone or amiloride).
- In patients in whom there is cause for arrest or delay in tablet passage through the gastrointestinal tract, such as those suffering from delayed gastric emptying, esophageal compression, intestinal obstruction or stricture, or those taking anticholinergic medication.
- In patients with peptic ulcer disease because of its ulcerogenic potential.
- In patients with active urinary tract infection (with either urea-splitting or other organisms, in association with either calcium or struvite stones). The ability of Potassium Citrate to increase urinary citrate may be attenuated by bacterial enzymatic degradation of citrate. Moreover, the rise in urinary pH resulting from Potassium Citrate therapy might promote further bacterial growth.
- In patients with renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate of less than 0.7 ml/kg/min), because of the danger of soft tissue calcification and increased risk for the development of hyperkalemia.
Special Warning
Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.
Acute Overdose
As with other sympathomimetic agents, symptoms of overdosage include irritability, restlessness, tremor, convulsions, palpitations, hypertension and difficulty in micturition. Necessary measures should be taken to maintain and support respiration and control convulsions. Gastric lavage should be performed if indicated. If desired, the elimination of Pseudoephedrine can be accelerated by acid diuresis or by dialysis.
Treatment Of Overdosage: The administration of potassium salts to persons without predisposing conditions for hyperkalemia rarely causes serious hyperkalemia at recommended dosages. It is important to recognize that hyperkalemia is usually asymptomatic and may be manifested only by an increased serum potassium concentration and characteristic electrocardiographic changes (peaking of T-wave, 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.
Treatment measures for hyperkalemia include the following:
- Patients should be closely monitored for arrhythmias and electrolyte changes.
- Elimination of medications containing potassium and of agents with potassium-sparing properties such as potassium-sparing diuretics, ARBs, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs, certain nutritional supplements and many others.
- Elimination of foods containing high levels of potassium such as almonds, apricots, bananas, beans (lima, pinto, white), cantaloupe, carrot juice (canned), figs, grapefruit juice, halibut, milk, oat bran, potato (with skin), salmon, spinach, tuna and many others.
- Intravenous calcium gluconate if the patient is at no risk or low risk of developing digitalis toxicity.
- Intravenous administration of 300-500 mL/hr of 10% dextrose solution containing 10-20 units of crystalline insulin per 1,000 mL.
- Correction of acidosis, if present, with intravenous sodium bicarbonate.
- Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
- Exchange resins may be used. However, this measure alone is not sufficient for the acute treatment of hyperkalemia.
Lowering potassium levels too rapidly in patients taking digitalis can produce digitalis toxicity.
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