Potassium Chloride

DRUG INFORMATION

  ADULT
    - Monitor serum potassium and adjust dosages accordingly (2.1) If serum potassium is
      less than 2.5 mEq/L, use intravenous potassium instead of oral supplementation
      (2.1) Take with meals and with a glass of water or other liquid. Swallow tablets
      whole without crushing, chewing or sucking. (2.1) Treatment of hypokalemia: Doses
      range from 40-100 mEq/day in divided doses. Limit doses to 40 mEq per dose.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section 'dosage
      and administration', retrieved 2026-08-29

  CHILD
    - Safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have not been established.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section
      'pediatric use', retrieved 2026-08-29

  RENAL IMPAIRMENT
    - Cirrhosis: Initiate therapy at the low end of the dosing range (8.6) Renal
      Impairment: Initiate therapy at the low end of the dosing range (8.7) 8.1
      Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no human data related to use of Potassium
      Chloride Extended-release Tablets, USP during pregnancy, and animal reproduction
      studies have not been conducted.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section 'use in
      specific populations', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Patients with cirrhosis should usually be started at the low end of the dosing
      range, and the serum potassium level should be monitored frequently [see Clinical
      Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 8.7 Renal Impairment Patients with renal impairment have
      reduced urinary excretion of potassium and are at substantially increased risk of
      hyperkalemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] .
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section 'use in
      specific populations', retrieved 2026-08-29

  HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT
    - No liver-impairment dose in this label. Not a statement that none is needed.
      Source: Read and found silent: the US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium
      Chloride), retrieved 2026-08-29

  PREGNANCY
    - Risk Summary There are no human data related to use of Potassium Chloride
      Extended-release Tablets, USP during pregnancy, and animal reproduction studies
      have not been conducted.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section
      'pregnancy', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Potassium supplementation that does not lead to hyperkalemia is not expected to
      cause fetal harm.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section
      'pregnancy', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - The background risk for major birth defects and miscarriage in the indicated
      population is unknown.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section
      'pregnancy', retrieved 2026-08-29

  BREASTFEEDING
    - Risk Summary The normal potassium ion content of human milk is about 13 mEq per
      liter.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section 'nursing
      mothers', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Since oral potassium becomes part of the body potassium pool, so long as body
      potassium is not excessive, the contribution of potassium chloride supplementation
      should have little or no effect on the level in human milk.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section 'nursing
      mothers', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth
      defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%,
      respectively. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary The normal potassium ion content of human
      milk is about 13 mEq per liter.
      Source: US FDA label for potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride), section 'use in
      specific populations', retrieved 2026-08-29