The most common problem associated with potassium chloride infusion is pain. The occurrence of pain has been reported in up to 60% of patients receiving intravenous replacement (12), resulting in patient's refusal of the prescribed therapy (13).
I had several infusions of IV potassium chloride when my serum potassium was too low after a kidney transplant. It really hurt. Nurses knew, slowed the rate of infusion, and provided ice packs, but it was still very painful. It brought me to tears, and I was on post-op pain med.
Intravenous replacement should be used in patients with severe symptomatic hypokalemia (less than 2.5 mmol/L) and in patients with less severe hypokalemia who are unable to take oral medica- tions. The most common problem associated with potassium chlo- ride infusion is pain.
"It's like a burning cocktail coursing through your veins," says Lubarsky, referring to potassium chloride. "Once it reaches the heart, it stops the heart, and you do die. But in the process there is a period of just intense and searing pain."
The risks associated with intravenous potassium chloride are well known. If it is injected too rapidly or in too high a dose, it may cause cardiac arrest within minutes. The effect of hyperkalaemia on the heart is complex – virtually any arrhythmia may be observed.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
Check concentration before use: potassium chloride also comes in ampoules containing 7.5%, 11.2%, 15% and 20% solutions. NEVER USE BY IV OR IM OR SC INJECTION. Potassium chloride must always be administered by slow IV infusion, diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride.
Potassium chloride injection is given as a slow infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this medicine by injection if you have severely low potassium levels. Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when potassium chloride is injected.
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.
10mmol in 100ml bags must be administered over 1 hour via an infusion pump.
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.
Even if the medication is working, you may experience some unwanted side effects. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following: Dangerously high potassium: tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps or pain, chest pain, unusual heartbeat, trouble breathing.
Potassium Chloride Injection should be administered with extreme caution, if at all, to patients with conditions predisposing to hyperkalemia and/or associated with increased sensitivity to potassium, such as patients with: severe renal impairment. acute dehydration. extensive tissue injury or burns.
Prevention or reduction of pain can be achieved by running potassium chloride at an infusion rate below 20 mmol/hour (15), injecting into large vein using a large bore cannula, adding a diluent (e.g., 0.9% normal saline) during the infusion process, and applying an ice pack.
* Breathing Potassium Chlorate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing sneezing, coughing and sore throat. * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry oxygen causing headache, weakness, dizziness and a blue color to the skin (methemoglobinemia).
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Redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
How does potassium chloride affect the heart? If a person takes too much potassium chloride, they may experience heart palpitations or heart arrhythmia, which can be life threatening. However, having low potassium levels can also affect the heart, increasing the stiffness of the arteries and reducing muscle movements.
The most common adverse reactions to oral potassium salts are nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain/discomfort and diarrhea. These symptoms are due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and are best managed by taking the dose with meals or reducing the amount taken at one time.
Potassium salts should never be administered by IV push. Clinical evaluation and periodic laboratory determinations are necessary to monitor changes in fluid balance, electrolyte concentrations and acid base balance during prolonged parenteral therapy or whenever the condition of the patient warrants such evaluation.
As the needle is inserted, if you feel an electric-shock-type sensation radiating down your hand, your IV may have come into contact with a nerve. Or, you may feel pain if the needle has gone beyond the vein into a muscle or tendon.
The intracellular nature of the potassium deficit means that IV potassium must be administered slowly: Time is required for potassium to enter the cells. Rapid administration may cause serum levels to be elevated (even though there is a total-body potassium deficit!). Serum hyperkalemia is dangerous.
Inject lidocaine just under the skin with a small (27-guage) hypodermic needle to anesthetize the tissue around where you're going to place the IV. Then you can go in with a larger catheter (18-guage) and the patient will have less discomfort with the IV start because the skin is already numbed.
In nature, potassium occurs only in ionic salts. Elemental potassium reacts vigorously with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite hydrogen emitted in the reaction, and burning with a lilac-colored flame.
Low-sodium foods and salt substitutes should be avoided during your treatment with potassium chloride. These foods contain potassium, and eating them can increase the level of potassium in your blood.
It must be dissolved in water or fruit juice before you take it. Avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after you take this medication. Take this medication with food or just after a meal. To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often.