Potassium chloride (medical use)

Potassium chloride, also known as potassium salt, is used as a medication to treat and prevent low blood potassium.[1] Low blood potassium may occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, or certain medications.[2] The concentrated version should be diluted before use.[1] It is given by slow injection into a vein or by mouth.[3]

Side effects may include heart problems if given too quickly by injection into a vein.[3] By mouth it can result in abdominal pain, peptic ulcer disease, or gastrointestinal bleeding.[3] Greater care is recommended in those with kidney problems.[1] As long as high blood potassium does not occur, use in pregnancy or breastfeeding is believed to be safe for the baby.[4] Generally, the strength of the formulation for injection into a vein should not be greater than 40 mmol/l (3 mg/l).[3]

Potassium chloride came into large scale commercial use as a fertilizer in 1861 and has been used medically since the 1950s.[5][6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.[7] Potassium chloride is available as a generic medication.[3] The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.44 USD per 10 ml of 10% solution.[8] In the United Kingdom 10 ml of 15% solution costs the NHS about 0.48 pounds.[3] In 2016 it was the 33rd most prescribed medication in the United States with more than 22 million prescriptions.[9]