How to Take Potassium Chloride

For people with prolonged nutritional potassium depletion, potassium chloride oral medication can offer a simple solution with basic supplemental calcium much in the same way as other potassium salts. Read on to learn how to take potassium chloride.

Things You'll Need

• Potassium Chloride

Instructions

1. Know the dosage. Dosage for potassium chloride is dependent upon your size and how depleted your body is of potassium.

2. Determine how frequently it should be taken. Frequency and amount of dosage should be such that less than 20 mEq is taken at a time. If less than 20 mEq per day is indicated, the dosage for the entire day can be taken at once.

3. Swallow the potassium chloride pills with a glass of water and with a meal because there is a risk of gastrointestinal irritation.

4. Know the side effects. Side affects and dangers of potassium chloride include nausea, vomiting, flatulence and diarrhea.

5. Know when it should not be taken. You should not take potassium chloride if you have hyperkalemia. Also, some ACE inhibitors are contraindicated with potassium chloride pills.

Tips & Warnings

• An overdose of potassium chloride is rare, but if it happens it can cause hpyerkalemia.

• Long-term use of potassium salts may result in gastrointestinal ulceration.

• Take any missed doses for potassium chloride as soon as you remember, so long as you don't exceed the 20 mEq per dose limit.

• Mix the granule or liquid form of potassium chloride with at least four ounces of water and drink it immediately.

• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, Addison's disease, a stomach ulcer, intestinal blockage, chronic diarrhea or are taking a diuretic before taking potassium chloride.

• Take potassium chloride regularly to achieve the greatest benefit.

• Keep potassium chloride at room temperature and dry.

• Have your blood tested regularly to ensure potassium chloride is working.

• If you miss a dose of potassium chloride you should take the dose as soon as you remember. If you are close to the time for your next dose you should skip the dose.

• Not-so serious side effects of potassium chloride include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, skin rash, tingling in hands or feet and anxiety.

• Keep your potassium chloride pills in a child-proof container out of children's reach.

• Do not crush, chew or break potassium chloride. swallow the capsules whole.

• Do not use a salt substitute while taking potassium chloride without a doctor's permission.

• Stop using potassium chloride and see a doctor if you begin to suffer from chest pain, nausea, sweating, ill feeling, uneven heart rate, confusion, tiredness, severe cramping, stomach pain or bloody stools.

• Before taking potassium chloride you should speak to your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken benazepril, captopril, fosinopril, enalapril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril, acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol, carvedilol, esmolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, or timolol, amiloride, bumetanide, chlorthalidone, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, metolazone, spironolactone, triamterene, torsemide, prednisone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, ibuprofen, diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, flurbiprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, nabumetone, naproxen or piroxicam.