K-Norm

Serious side effects have been reported with potassium chloride including:

• Hyperkalemia. Potassium chloride can lead to dangerously high levels of potassium, which could cause the heart to stop beating. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or kidney disease.
• Digestive tract injury. Potassium chloride can remain in the digestive system for too long, leading to injuries in the digestive tract (stomach, intestines). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of digestive tract injury:
  • stomach pain
  • swollen stomach
  • dark or black stools
• Metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the body). Patients should be treated with a particular potassium salt such as potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, or potassium gluconate. Use with potassium chloride is not recommended.

Do not take potassium chloride if you:

• have high potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
• have any physical, disease-related, or drug-related problems that would stop or slow the passage of this medication through the gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) tract
• have an enlargened heart that narrows the esophagus; a liquid form of this medication should be prescribed instead of the capsule or tablet

Take potassium chloride exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Dose amount is determined according to the individual needs of each patient:

• For the prevention of hypokalemia: typically in the range of 20 mEq per day
• For treatment of potassium depletion: typically in the range of 40-100 mEq per day or more

Dosage should be divided if more than 20 mEq per day. No more than 20 mEq is given in a single dose.