Potassium Chloride
Trade Names
Potassium Chloride (Juno), Potassium Chloride (Lumacina), Potassium Chloride (Phebra)
Mini-Bag: Potassium Chloride (Baxter)
Strength
Pre-mixed potassium-containing fluid bags should be used wherever possible to avoid the need for manipulation or addition of concentrated potassium solutions to IV fluids.
Mini-Bag:
0.1 mmol/mL in 0.29% sodium chloride (volume: 100 mL), "10 mmol Mini-Bag"
0.4 mmol/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride (volume: 100 mL), "40 mmol Mini-Bag"
Ampoule:
1 mmol/mL (volume: 10 mL)
These are the only potassium chloride concentrations stocked at RCH, and should always be kept in the red boxes provided.
Other commercially available strengths:
3 mmol/mL [10 mL]
Potassium 1 mmol is equivalent to potassium chloride 75 mg.
IV administration
Only administer potassium chloride by infusion. Never flush after potassium chloride infusions.
All other potassium-containing fluids (including TPN) need to be paused during potassium chloride infusions.
Potassium chloride ampoules must be diluted prior to infusion.
Dilute to 60 mmol/L or weaker and give at a rate of 0.2 mmol/kg/hour (maximum 10 mmol/hour) or slower using a syringe pump or an infusion pump with DERS.
Potassium chloride 10 mmol Mini-Bags are isotonic and can be administered via a peripheral line.
Other potassium chloride infusions greater than 60 mmol/L must be given via a central line only at a maximum rate of 0.4 mmol/kg/hour. These must only be given in ICU or wards where the administration of concentrated potassium chloride is permitted, patients are ECG monitored and there is a clear protocol to follow.
RCH Standard Concentrations:
ICU: 1 mmol/mL
Oncology: 0.4 mmol/mL
Other routes of administration
IM: Not recommended.
SC: Not recommended.
Compatible IV fluids
Potassium chloride 0.16 mmol/mL or weaker:
Glucose 5%
Glucose 5% and sodium chloride 0.9%
Glucose 10%
Hartmann’s
Ringer’s
Sodium chloride 0.9%
Y-site only:
Hartmann’s
Ringer’s
Y-site only and potassium chloride 0.5 mmol/mL or weaker:
Plasma-Lyte 148
Additional information
Extravasation risk.
Refer to local guidelines for monitoring required during potassium chloride infusion. Cardiac monitoring is recommended.
When adding potassium chloride to an IV fluid bag, mix well by inverting the bag at least 10 times. Do not add potassium chloride to a bag that is already hanging.
Clearly label all bags, syringes, pumps and lines that contain potassium to avoid inadvertent flushing.
If a fluid bolus is required, use a fluid that does not contain potassium. If administration of a drug requires an increase in the infusion rate, do not use a potassium containing fluid to administer the drug.