K-Lyte Cl

In the U.S.

• Effer-K
• Glu-K
• K+Care ET
• K-Lyte
• K-Lyte Cl
• K-Tab
• Potassimin
• Tri-K
• Urocit-K 10

In Canada

• K-10 Solution
• Kaochlor 10
• Kaochlor 20
• Kaon
• K-Lor
• K-Lyte/Ci
• Potassium Chloride
• Potassium-Rougier
• Roychlor

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet, Effervescent
• Solution
• Capsule
• Tablet, Extended Release
• Powder for Suspension, Extended Release
• Tablet
• Powder for Suspension
• Liquid
• Elixir
• Granule
• Capsule, Extended Release
• Powder for Solution

For good health, it is important that you eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow carefully any diet program your health care professional may recommend. For your specific dietary vitamin and/or mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of appropriate foods.

The following table includes some potassium-rich foods.

The daily amount of potassium needed is defined in several different ways.

For U.S.—
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

For Canada—
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.

Because lack of potassium is rare, there is no RDA or RNI for this mineral. However, it is thought that 1600 to 2000 mg (40 to 50 milliequivalents [mEq]) per day for adults is adequate.

Remember:

• The total amount of potassium that you get every day includes what you get from food and what you may take as a supplement. Read the labels of processed foods. Many foods now have added potassium.
• Your total intake of potassium should not be greater than the recommended amounts, unless ordered by your doctor. In some cases, too much potassium may cause muscle weakness, confusion, irregular heartbeat, or difficult breathing.

If you are taking a dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For these supplements, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Although there is no specific information comparing use of potassium supplements in children with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of potassium supplements in the elderly with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.

Older adults may be at a greater risk of developing high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia).

Pregnancy

Potassium supplements have not been shown to cause problems in humans.

Breast Feeding

Potassium supplements pass into breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these dietary supplements, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with dietary supplements in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amantadine
• Amifampridine
• Amisulpride
• Atropine
• Belladonna
• Belladonna Alkaloids
• Benztropine
• Bepridil
• Biperiden
• Cisapride
• Clidinium
• Darifenacin
• Dicyclomine
• Dronedarone
• Eplerenone
• Fesoterodine
• Glycopyrrolate
• Hyoscyamine
• Mesoridazine
• Methscopolamine
• Oxybutynin
• Pimozide
• Piperaquine
• Procyclidine
• Saquinavir
• Scopolamine
• Solifenacin
• Sparfloxacin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Tolterodine
• Trihexyphenidyl
• Trospium
• Ziprasidone

Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alacepril
• Alfuzosin
• Amiloride
• Amiodarone
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Anagrelide
• Apomorphine
• Aripiprazole
• Aripiprazole Lauroxil
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Asenapine
• Astemizole
• Azithromycin
• Bedaquiline
• Benazepril
• Buserelin
• Canrenoate
• Captopril
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Cilazapril
• Ciprofloxacin
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clomipramine
• Clozapine
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dabrafenib
• Dasatinib
• Degarelix
• Delamanid
• Delapril
• Desipramine
• Deslorelin
• Deutetrabenazine
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Droperidol
• Efavirenz
• Enalaprilat
• Enalapril Maleate
• Erythromycin
• Escitalopram
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Foscarnet
• Fosinopril
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gonadorelin
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Histrelin
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroxyzine
• Ibutilide
• Iloperidone
• Imidapril
• Imipramine
• Indomethacin
• Ivabradine
• Ketoconazole
• Lapatinib
• Leuprolide
• Levofloxacin
• Lisinopril
• Lopinavir
• Lumefantrine
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Metronidazole
• Mifepristone
• Moexipril
• Moxifloxacin
• Nafarelin
• Nilotinib
• Norfloxacin
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Ondansetron
• Paliperidone
• Panobinostat
• Pasireotide
• Pazopanib
• Pentopril
• Perindopril
• Pimavanserin
• Pitolisant
• Posaconazole
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Quinapril
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Ramipril
• Ranolazine
• Ribociclib
• Salmeterol
• Sevoflurane
• Solifenacin
• Sorafenib
• Sotalol
• Spirapril
• Spironolactone
• Sulpiride
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• Telavancin
• Telithromycin
• Temocapril
• Tetrabenazine
• Tizanidine
• Toremifene
• Trandolapril
• Trazodone
• Triamterene
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimipramine
• Triptorelin
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Vinflunine
• Voriconazole
• Zofenopril
• Zuclopenthixol

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dietary supplements in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Addison's disease (underactive adrenal glands) or
• Dehydration (excessive loss of body water, continuing or severe)
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus or
• Kidney disease—Potassium supplements may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium), which may worsen or cause heart problems in patients with these conditions.

• Diarrhea (continuing or severe)—The loss of fluid in combination with potassium supplements may cause kidney problems, which may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium).

• Heart disease—Potassium supplements may make this condition worse.

• Intestinal or esophageal blockage—Potassium supplements may damage the intestines.

• Stomach ulcer—Potassium supplements may make this condition worse.

Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits to make sure the medicine is working properly and that possible side effects are avoided. Laboratory tests may be necessary.

Do not use salt substitutes, eat low-sodium foods, especially some breads and canned foods, or drink low-sodium milk unless you are told to do so by your doctor, since these products may contain potassium. It is important to read the labels carefully on all low-sodium food products.

Check with your doctor before starting any physical exercise program, especially if you are out of condition and are taking any other medicine. Exercise and certain medicines may increase the amount of potassium in the blood.

Check with your doctor at once if you notice blackish stools or other signs of stomach or intestinal bleeding. This medicine may cause such a condition to become worse, especially when taken in tablet form.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Stop taking this medicine and check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Confusion
• irregular or slow heartbeat
• numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
• shortness of breath or difficult breathing
• unexplained anxiety
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weakness or heaviness of legs

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• Abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or soreness (continuing)
• chest or throat pain, especially when swallowing
• stools with signs of blood (red or black color)

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Diarrhea
• nausea
• stomach pain, discomfort, or gas (mild)
• vomiting

Sometimes you may see what appears to be a whole tablet in the stool after taking certain extended-release potassium chloride tablets. This is to be expected. Your body has absorbed the potassium from the tablet and the shell is then expelled.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Potassium is a mineral that is found in many foods and is needed for several functions of your body, especially the beating of your heart.

Potassium bicarbonate and 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 bicarbonate and potassium chloride may also be used for other purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have certain conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have:

• high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia);

• kidney failure;

• Addison's disease (an adrenal gland disorder);

• a large tissue injury such as a severe burn;

• if you are severely dehydrated; or

• if you are taking a "potassium-sparing" diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide).

Before using potassium bicarbonate and potassium chloride, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;

• heart disease or high blood pressure;

• a blockage in your stomach or intestines; or

• chronic diarrhea (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take potassium bicarbonate and potassium chloride.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether potassium passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Belly pain.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Some side effects of K-Lyte / Cl may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.