potassium chloride (oral/injection)

Pronunciation: poe TASS ee um

Brand: Kal Potassium 99, Klor-Con, K-Tab, Potassium Chloride Proamp

K-Tab

slide 1 of 56, K-Tab,

10 mEq, oval, yellow, imprinted with a, K-TAB

Image of K-Tab
slide 1 of 56

Klor-Con 8

slide 2 of 56, Klor-Con 8,

8 mEq, round, blue, imprinted with KC 8

Image of Klor-Con 8
slide 2 of 56

Klor-Con 10

slide 3 of 56, Klor-Con 10,

10 mEq, round, yellow, imprinted with KC 10

Image of Klor-Con 10
slide 3 of 56

Klor-Con M10

slide 4 of 56, Klor-Con M10,

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M10

Image of Klor-Con M10
slide 4 of 56

Klor-Con M20

slide 5 of 56, Klor-Con M20,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KCM20

Image of Klor-Con M20
slide 5 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 6 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

8 mEq, round, blue, imprinted with USL 8

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 6 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con 10)

slide 7 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con 10),

10 mEq, round, white, imprinted with USL 10

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con 10)
slide 7 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)

slide 8 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10),

10 mEq, oval, white, imprinted with US 10

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)
slide 8 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 9 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

8 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with LOGO, 559

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 9 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 10 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

10 mEq, capsule, blue, imprinted with Andrx, 560

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 10 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 11 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, oval, white, imprinted with ABRS-123

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 11 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-K-Tab)

slide 12 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-K-Tab),

10 mEq, oval, yellow, imprinted with a, K-TAB

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-K-Tab)
slide 12 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 13 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with ABRS-123

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 13 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 14 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

8 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with Andrx, 559

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 14 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 15 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

10 mEq, capsule, blue, imprinted with Andrx, 560

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 15 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 16 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

10 mEq, oval, white, imprinted with Andrx 710

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 16 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 17 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

20 mEq, oval, white, imprinted with ANDRX720

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 17 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 18 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with ABRS-123

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 18 of 56

Klor-Con 8

slide 19 of 56, Klor-Con 8,

8 mEq, round, blue, imprinted with KC 8

Image of Klor-Con 8
slide 19 of 56

Klor-Con

slide 20 of 56, Klor-Con,

10 mEq, round, yellow, imprinted with KC 10

Image of Klor-Con
slide 20 of 56

Klor-Con M10

slide 21 of 56, Klor-Con M10,

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M10

Image of Klor-Con M10
slide 21 of 56

Klor-Con M20

slide 22 of 56, Klor-Con M20,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M20

Image of Klor-Con M20
slide 22 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 23 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with ABRS-123

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 23 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 24 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

8 mEq, round, yellow, imprinted with K-TAB

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 24 of 56

K-Dur 10

slide 25 of 56, K-Dur 10,

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with K-DUR 10

Image of K-Dur 10
slide 25 of 56

K-Dur 20

slide 26 of 56, K-Dur 20,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with K-DUR 20

Image of K-Dur 20
slide 26 of 56

Klor-Con 10

slide 27 of 56, Klor-Con 10,

10 mEq, round, yellow, imprinted with KC 10

Image of Klor-Con 10
slide 27 of 56

Klor-Con 10

slide 28 of 56, Klor-Con 10,

10 mEq, round, orange, imprinted with KLOR-CON 10

Image of Klor-Con 10
slide 28 of 56

Klor-Con 8

slide 29 of 56, Klor-Con 8,

8 mEq, round, blue, imprinted with KC 8

Image of Klor-Con 8
slide 29 of 56

Klor-Con M10

slide 30 of 56, Klor-Con M10,

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M10

Image of Klor-Con M10
slide 30 of 56

Klor-Con 10

slide 31 of 56, Klor-Con 10,

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M10

Image of Klor-Con 10
slide 31 of 56

Klor-Con M15

slide 32 of 56, Klor-Con M15,

15 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with M 15

Image of Klor-Con M15
slide 32 of 56

Klor-Con M20

slide 33 of 56, Klor-Con M20,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M20

Image of Klor-Con M20
slide 33 of 56

Klor-Con M20

slide 34 of 56, Klor-Con M20,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KCM20

Image of Klor-Con M20
slide 34 of 56

Micro-K 10

slide 35 of 56, Micro-K 10,

10 mEq, capsule, orange/white, imprinted with MICRO-K 10, Ther-Rx 009

Image of Micro-K 10
slide 35 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con 10)

slide 36 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con 10),

10 mEq, round, yellow, imprinted with KC 10

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con 10)
slide 36 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)

slide 37 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10),

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M10

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)
slide 37 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 38 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

10 mEq, round, orange, imprinted with 6910 AP 10mEq

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 38 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)

slide 39 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10),

10 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with US 10

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)
slide 39 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 40 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with KC M20

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 40 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 41 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with US 20

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 41 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 42 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with W-1714

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 42 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 43 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

8 mEq, round, blue, imprinted with KC 8

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 43 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 44 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

10 mEq, capsule, orange/white, imprinted with G, 357

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 44 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)

slide 45 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10),

10 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with 471

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M10)
slide 45 of 56

Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)

slide 46 of 56, Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20),

20 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with 472

Image of Potassium Chloride (Eqv-Klor-Con M20)
slide 46 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 47 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

8 mEq, round, blue, imprinted with 1G5

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 47 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 48 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

8 mEq, round, orange, imprinted with COPLEY 225

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 48 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 49 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

10 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with ETHEX, 001

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 49 of 56

Potassium Chloride SR

slide 50 of 56, Potassium Chloride SR,

20 mEq, oblong, white, imprinted with 2 0, ETH

Image of Potassium Chloride SR
slide 50 of 56

K-Tab

slide 51 of 56, K-Tab,

8 mEq, round, yellow, imprinted with KTAB

Image of K-Tab
slide 51 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 52 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

10 mEq, capsule, blue, imprinted with AMNEAL 542

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 52 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 53 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

10 mEq, capsule, blue, imprinted with 103

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 53 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 54 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

10 mEq, capsule, blue, imprinted with AMNEAL 542

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 54 of 56

Potassium Chloride ER

slide 55 of 56, Potassium Chloride ER,

8 mEq, capsule, white, imprinted with 102

Image of Potassium Chloride ER
slide 55 of 56

Slow-K

slide 56 of 56, Slow-K,

8 mEq, round, peach, imprinted with Slow-K

Image of Slow-K
slide 56 of 56

What is the most important information I should know about potassium chloride?

You should not use this medicine if you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia), or if you also take a "potassium-sparing" diuretic.

What is potassium chloride?

Potassium is a mineral that is needed for several functions of your body, especially the beating of your heart.

Potassium chloride is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia). Potassium levels can be low as a result of a disease or from taking certain medicines, or after a prolonged illness with diarrhea or vomiting.

Potassium chloride may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking potassium chloride?

You should not use potassium chloride if you are allergic to it, or if:

  • you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia); or
  • you take a "potassium-sparing" diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride, spironolactone, or triamterene.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • heart problems;
  • high blood pressure;
  • liver or kidney disease;
  • a large tissue injury such as a severe burn;
  • an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of calcium or magnesium in your blood);
  • trouble swallowing;
  • slow digestion;
  • stomach bleeding, an ulcer, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines;
  • an adrenal gland disorder;
  • diabetes; or
  • severe dehydration.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I take potassium chloride?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Potassium chloride oral is taken by mouth. Potassium chloride injection is given as a slow infusion into a vein.

A healthcare provider will give you this medicine by injection if you have severely low potassium levels. Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when potassium chloride is injected.

Take oral potassium chloride with food if the medicine upsets your stomach.

Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving this medicine to a child.

Take the tablet or capsule with a full glass of water.

Do not crush, chew, or suck on a potassium tablet or capsule. Sucking on the pill could irritate your mouth or throat.

Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon). Mix the oral solution with least 4 ounces of water before taking it.

You may need to follow a special diet while using potassium chloride. Follow all instructions of your doctor or dietitian. Learn about the foods to eat or avoid to help control your condition.

Call your doctor if you have trouble swallowing a potassium chloride capsule or tablet. You may be able to dissolve the tablet in water, or mix the medicine from a capsule with soft food. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions.

You may need frequent medical tests. Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). Even if you have no symptoms, tests can help your doctor determine if this medicine is effective.

Some tablets are made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Part of this shell may appear in your stool. This is normal and will not make the medicine less effective.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the medication in a closed container.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, muscle weakness, loss of movement, numbness or tingling, or feeling light-headed.

What should I avoid while taking potassium chloride?

Do not use potassium supplements or other products that contain potassium, unless your doctor has told you to. Salt substitutes or low-salt foods often contain potassium. Read the label of any food or medicine to see if it contains potassium.

What are the possible side effects of potassium chloride?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using potassium chloride and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • severe throat irritation;
  • chest pain, trouble breathing;
  • pain, burning, bruising, swelling, irritation, or skin changes where the medicine was injected;
  • stomach bloating, severe vomiting, severe stomach pain;
  • high potassium level --nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement; or
  • signs of stomach bleeding --bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Common side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
  • gas, stomach pain; or
  • the appearance of a potassium chloride tablet in your stool.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect potassium chloride?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

  • medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection;
  • a diuretic or "water pill"; or
  • heart or blood pressure medication.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect potassium chloride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about potassium chloride.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.