POTASSIUM CHLORIDE 0.15% IN DEXTROSE 5% AND SODIUM CHLORIDE 0.33% IN PLASTIC CONTAINER
Clinical safety rating: safe
No significant drug interactions Can cause hypernatremia and fluid overload.
Potassium chloride provides potassium ions for essential cellular functions, including maintenance of intracellular tonicity, nerve impulse conduction, cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction, and acid-base balance. Dextrose supplies glucose for cellular energy metabolism, and sodium chloride provides sodium and chloride ions to maintain extracellular fluid volume and osmolality.
| Metabolism | Potassium is not metabolized; it is excreted primarily by the kidneys. Dextrose is metabolized via glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to carbon dioxide and water. Sodium and chloride are not metabolized. |
| Excretion | Primarily renal excretion of potassium (90% via kidneys); chloride and dextrose components are metabolized or excreted renally. Less than 1% fecal. |
| Half-life | Potassium: Not applicable (homeostatically regulated); dextrose: ~1-2 hours (exogenous insulin clearance); chloride: ~3-4 hours. |
| Protein binding | Potassium: negligible (<5%); chloride: negligible; dextrose: not bound. |
| Volume of Distribution | Potassium: ~1.5 L/kg (total body water); chloride: ~0.3 L/kg (extracellular); dextrose: ~0.2 L/kg (extracellular) |
| Bioavailability | Intravenous: 100% |
| Onset of Action | Intravenous: Immediate (within minutes) for electrolyte effect; dextrose effect on blood glucose within 15-30 minutes. |
| Duration of Action | Potassium: Electrolyte effects persist for hours depending on infusion rate and renal function; dextrose: 1-2 hours; chloride: 2-4 hours. |
Intravenous infusion, rate determined by patient's fluid and electrolyte needs; typical adult maintenance: 100-200 mL/hour, providing potassium at 1.5-3 mEq/hour, not to exceed 10 mEq/hour or 200 mEq/day.
| Dosage form | INJECTABLE |
| Renal impairment | GFR 30-50 mL/min: reduce potassium content by 50% or use alternative; GFR <30 mL/min: avoid potassium-containing solutions due to risk of hyperkalemia. |
| Liver impairment | No specific dose adjustment for Child-Pugh class A or B; Class C: monitor potassium levels closely due to potential hepatorenal syndrome and altered fluid balance. |
| Pediatric use | Weight-based dosing: potassium 0.2-0.5 mEq/kg/day for maintenance; infusion rate not to exceed 0.5 mEq/kg/hour; solution administered at calculated maintenance rate for dextrose and sodium needs. |
| Geriatric use | Start at lower end of dosing range, monitor renal function and serum potassium frequently; typical infusion rates 50-100 mL/hour to avoid fluid overload. |
| 1st trimester | Consult provider |
| 2nd trimester | Consult provider |
| 3rd trimester | Consult provider |
Clinical note
No significant drug interactions Can cause hypernatremia and fluid overload.
| FDA category | Animal |
| Breastfeeding | Potassium, chloride, dextrose, and sodium are normal components of breast milk and maternal plasma. No specific M/P ratio available; infusion at therapeutic doses does not significantly alter milk composition. Compatible with breastfeeding; caution with high doses or electrolyte imbalances. |
| Teratogenic Risk | No increased risk of major congenital malformations reported across all trimesters. Potassium chloride, dextrose, and sodium chloride are physiologic electrolytes and nutrients; no teratogenicity in animal or human data. Administration at standard doses is considered safe. however, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia during pregnancy may pose maternal-fetal risks (e.g., arrhythmias, fetal distress). |
■ FDA Black Box Warning
Concentrated potassium chloride solutions (e.g., >0.1%) must be diluted before administration to avoid fatal hyperkalemia. Rapid infusion of potassium can cause cardiac arrest. This product contains aluminum that may be toxic to patients with renal impairment.
| Common Effects | fluid replacement |
| Serious Effects |
["Hyperkalemia","Renal failure with oliguria or anuria","Severe metabolic acidosis","Addison's disease","Acute dehydration or heat cramps","Patients with hypernatremia or hyperchloremia","Known hypersensitivity to any component"]
| Precautions | ["Monitor serum potassium, glucose, and electrolytes regularly","Risk of hyperkalemia, especially in patients with renal impairment or receiving other potassium-sparing drugs","Potassium toxicity can cause paresthesias, muscle weakness, confusion, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest","Sodium-containing solutions may cause fluid overload, especially in patients with heart failure or edema","Dextrose-containing solutions may cause hyperglycemia, osmotic diuresis, and dehydration"] |
Loading safety data…
| Fetal Monitoring | Monitor serum potassium, sodium, chloride, glucose, and renal function periodically. In pregnancy, monitor maternal blood pressure, urine output, and fetal heart rate (if indicated by maternal condition). Avoid fluid overload in preeclampsia or cardiac disease. |
| Fertility Effects | No known adverse effects on fertility. Hypokalemia or electrolyte disturbances from underlying conditions may impair fertility; correcting with this solution may improve reproductive function. |