POTASSIUM CHLORIDE 20MEQ IN DEXTROSE 5% AND SODIUM CHLORIDE 0.3% IN PLASTIC CONTAINER
Clinical safety rating: safe
No significant drug interactions Can cause hypernatremia and fluid overload.
Potassium chloride provides potassium ions for electrolyte balance; dextrose provides caloric support; sodium chloride provides sodium and chloride ions for fluid and electrolyte balance.
| Metabolism | Potassium chloride is not metabolized; dextrose is metabolized via glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation; sodium chloride is renally excreted without metabolism. |
| Excretion | Renal: >90% as potassium ion. Biliary/fecal: <10%. |
| Half-life | Not applicable; potassium is an electrolyte, not a drug with a half-life. Serum potassium half-life depends on distribution and elimination, but is not routinely measured. Potassium is rapidly distributed and excreted with a plasma disappearance half-life of approximately 1-1.5 hours after IV infusion in healthy individuals. |
| Protein binding | Minimal; not bound to plasma proteins. |
| Volume of Distribution | Total body potassium Vd ~0.4-0.6 L/kg (reflects distribution mainly into intracellular fluid, where 98% of body potassium resides). |
| Bioavailability | IV: 100%. Oral: 80-90% (not relevant for this IV formulation). |
| Onset of Action | IV: Immediate (seconds to minutes). |
| Duration of Action | IV: Duration of effect depends on infusion rate and ongoing losses; typically 1-2 hours after infusion stops. Continuous infusion maintains effect. |
40-100 mEq potassium chloride intravenously per day, infused at a rate not exceeding 10-20 mEq/hour, with continuous ECG monitoring. Dose and rate depend on serum potassium levels and clinical status.
| Dosage form | INJECTABLE |
| Renal impairment | GFR >50 mL/min: no adjustment. GFR 30-50 mL/min: reduce dose by 50%, monitor potassium closely. GFR <30 mL/min: avoid unless severe deficiency with close monitoring; use with extreme caution due to risk of hyperkalemia. |
| Liver impairment | No specific adjustments for Child-Pugh classification; monitor potassium levels and renal function as hepatic impairment may affect acid-base balance and potassium handling. |
| Pediatric use | 0.5-1 mEq/kg/dose intravenously, maximum rate 0.3-0.5 mEq/kg/hour, not to exceed 1 mEq/kg/hour. Total daily dose: 2-4 mEq/kg/day, with monitoring of serum potassium and ECG. |
| Geriatric use | Use lower initial doses (e.g., 20-40 mEq/day) and slower infusion rates (≤10 mEq/hour) due to age-related decline in renal function and higher risk of hyperkalemia. Monitor renal function and serum potassium frequently. |
| 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 is normally present in breast milk; administration of intravenous potassium chloride to the mother may slightly increase milk potassium levels but not to a clinically significant extent. Dextrose and sodium chloride are natural constituents. M/P ratio not determined; expected to be similar to endogenous potassium. Generally considered compatible with breastfeeding; no special precautions needed. |
| Teratogenic Risk |
■ FDA Black Box Warning
Concentrated potassium chloride injections must be diluted before use to prevent fatal hyperkalemia. Do not administer undiluted or as a bolus injection.
| Common Effects | fluid replacement |
| Serious Effects |
["Hyperkalemia","Severe renal impairment with oliguria or anuria","Addison's disease","Acute dehydration","Heat cramps","Patients receiving potassium-sparing diuretics"]
| Precautions | ["Monitor serum potassium levels during therapy to avoid hyperkalemia, especially in patients with renal impairment","Risk of fluid overload in patients with cardiac or renal disease","Avoid rapid infusion of solutions containing dextrose in patients with glucose intolerance","Do not use in patients with hyperkalemia or severe renal dysfunction"] |
Loading safety data…
| Potassium chloride is a normal constituent of body fluids; at physiological doses, no teratogenic risk is expected. For the dextrose component, hyperglycemia during pregnancy may be associated with fetal anomalies, but dextrose 5% is isotonic and provides a moderate glucose load; risk is minimal with controlled maternal glucose. Sodium chloride 0.3% is hypotonic but diluted; no direct teratogenic risk. Overall, no known teratogenic effect from this combination when used appropriately. First trimester: No evidence of increased risk. Second and third trimesters: Potential for electrolyte disturbances if maternal potassium imbalances occur, but usual doses are safe. |
| Fetal Monitoring | Monitor serum potassium levels, blood glucose, and vital signs during infusion. Assess for signs of hyperkalemia (ECG changes, muscle weakness) or hypoglycemia. Fetal heart rate monitoring recommended during administration for obstetric indications; maternal fluid status and urine output should be monitored to avoid fluid overload. |
| Fertility Effects | No known adverse effects on fertility. Potassium, dextrose, and sodium chloride are essential nutrients, and replacement therapy at therapeutic doses does not impair reproductive function. |