Generic name - brand name - definition - Main action - indication for use - side effects & nursing management for using of potassium chloride

1. Emergency Drugs

2. Potassium chloride (KCL)
 Generic name: potassium chloride (poe TASS ee um)
 Brand name: Kal Potassium 99, Klor-Con, K-Tab

3. Outlines
 Definition
 Main Action
 Indications
 Side effects
 Nursing Management

4. Definition
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.
Main Action
Potassium chloride, also known as potassium salt, is used as a medication to
treat and prevent low blood potassium.
- Low blood potassium may occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, or certain
medications.
- The concentrated version should be diluted before use.
- It is given by slow injection into a vein or by mouth.

5. Indications
 Hypokalemia
What cause hypokalemia?!
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Excessive use of diuretics or laxatives
Hypomagnesemia
Renal impairment
Adrenal gland disorder ( like Cushing syndrome that cause hyperaldosteronism.)
Certain drugs ( Insulin – Albuterol & terbutaline )
 Antidote for ( carbamates / organophosphate poisoning )

6. Side effects
Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, gas, or diarrhea, bradycardia & hypotension
Warning side effects ⚠️
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds, stomach/abdominal pain, black/tarry
stools.
- Allergic reaction including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the
face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

7. Nursing Management
Assessment
 History: Allergy to tartrazine, aspirin; severe renal impairment; untreated Addison’s
disease; hyperkalemia; adynamia episodica hereditaria; acute dehydration; heat cramps,
GI disorders that cause delay in passage in the GI tract, cardiac disorders, lactation
 Physical: Skin color, lesions, turgor; injection sites; P, baseline ECG; bowel sounds,
abdominal examination; urinary output; serum electrolytes, serum bicarbonate.
Interventions
 Arrange for serial serum potassium levels before and during therapy.
 Administer liquid form to any patient with delayed GI emptying.
 Administer oral drug after meals or with food and a full glass of water to decrease GI
upset.
 Caution patient not to chew or crush tablets; have patient swallow tablet whole.
 Mix or dissolve oral liquids, soluble powders, and effervescent tablets completely in 3–
8 oz of cold water, juice, or other suitable beverage, and have patient drink it slowly.

8. Nursing Management, cont.
Interventions
 Arrange for further dilution or dose reduction if GI effects are severe.
 Agitate prepared IV solution to prevent “layering” of potassium; do not add potassium
to an IV bottle in the hanging position.
 Monitor IV injection sites regularly for necrosis, tissue sloughing, phlebitis.
 Monitor cardiac rhythm carefully during IV administration.
 Caution patient that expended wax matrix capsules will be found in the stool.
 Caution patient not to use salt substitutes

9. Nursing Management, cont.
Teaching points:
 Do not chew or crush tablets, swallow tablets whole.
 Mix or dissolve oral liquids, soluble powders, and effervescent tablets completely in 3–
8 ounces of cold water, juice, or other suitable beverage, and drink it slowly. Take the
drug as prescribed; do not take more than prescribed.
 Have periodic blood tests and medical evaluation.
 You may experience these side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (taking the drugs
with meals, diluting them further may help).
 Report tingling of the hands or feet, unusual tiredness or weakness, feeling of heaviness
in the legs, severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, black or tarry stools, pain at IV
injection site.

10. References
 Sinha,S. (2021). Potassium chloride. Drug.com available @
https://www.drugs.com/potassium_chloride.html
 Marks,J. (2021). Potassium chloride. Everyday health. Available @
https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/potassium-chloride
 Garth, D. (2020). Hypokalemia in emergency medicine medication. Medscape.
Available @https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/767448-medication

11. Presented by:-
 Nourhan Elsayed Shaban
 Noura Mohamed Hassan