1 May 2026Oral drugsSource update: February 2024
Potassium chloride immediate-release oral
Immediate-release potassium chloride guidance for moderate hypokalaemia when a rapid oral effect is required.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Potassium supplement, when immediate effect is required.
Indications
Treatment of moderate hypokalaemia.
Forms and strengths
- 7.5% potassium chloride syrup providing 1 mmol of potassium per ml, to be administered using a measuring device.
Dose
- Child under 45 kg: 2 mmol/kg, corresponding to 2 ml/kg, daily.
- Child 45 kg and over and adult: 30 mmol, corresponding to 30 ml, 3 times daily.
| Age | Weight | 7.5% syrup |
|---|---|---|
| < 2 months | < 5 kg | 4 ml x 2 |
| 2 months to < 1 year | 5 to < 10 kg | 6 ml x 2 |
| 1 to < 3 years | 10 to < 15 kg | 12 ml x 2 |
| 3 to < 5 years | 15 to < 20 kg | 20 ml x 2 |
| 5 to < 7 years | 20 to < 25 kg | 25 ml x 2 |
| 7 to < 9 years | 25 to < 30 kg | 20 ml x 3 |
| 9 to < 13 years | 30 to < 45 kg | 25 ml x 3 |
| ≥ 13 years and adult | ≥ 45 kg | 30 ml x 3 |
Duration
According to clinical response. Treatment of 1 to 2 days is typically sufficient when the patient is fully able to drink oral rehydration solution and can eat.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Reduce dosage in older patients and patients with renal impairment because of the risk of hyperkalaemia.
- Do not combine with spironolactone and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors such as enalapril.
- May cause gastrointestinal ulcerations, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and rarely hyperkalaemia.
- Administer with caution to patients with gastrointestinal ulcer because of the risk of gastrointestinal ulcerations.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Take with or at the end of meals to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal ulcerations.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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