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- Potassium supplement, when immediate effect is required
Indications
- Treatment of moderate hypokalaemia
Forms and strengths
- 7.5% potassium chloride syrup (1 mmol of K+/ml), to be administered using a measuring device (oral syringe, mesuring spoon, or cup with graduations)
Dosage
- Child under 45 kg: 2 mmol/kg (2 ml/kg) daily (see table below)
- Child 45 kg and over and adult: 30 mmol (30 ml) 3 times daily
|
Age |
Weight |
7.5% syrup |
|---|---|---|
|
< 2 months |
< 5 kg |
4 ml x 2 |
|
2 months to < 1 year |
5 to < 10 kg |
6 ml x 2 |
|
1 to < 3 years |
10 to < 15 kg |
12 ml x 2 |
|
3 to < 5 years |
15 to < 20 kg |
20 ml x 2 |
|
5 to < 7 years |
20 to < 25 kg |
25 ml x 2 |
|
7 to < 9 years |
25 to < 30 kg |
20 ml x 3 |
|
9 to < 13 years |
30 to < 45 kg |
25 ml x 3 |
|
≥ 13 years and adult |
≥ 45 kg |
30 ml x 3 |
Duration
- According to clinical response. Treatment of 1 to 2 days is typically sufficient when the patient is fully able to drink oral rehydration solution and can eat.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Reduce dosage in older patients and patients with renal impairment (risk of hyperkalaemia).
- Do not combine with spironolactone and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (e.g. enalapril).
- May cause: gastrointestinal ulcerations, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, rarely hyperkalaemia.
- Administer with caution to patients with gastrointestinal ulcer (risk of gastrointestinal ulcerations).
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
- Take with or at the end meals in order to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal ulcerations.
- Hypokalaemia is defined as a serum potassium concentration below 3.5 mmol/litre.
Storage
Below 25 °C