Potassium is an essential dietary mineral. Potassium salts, such as potassium chloride, function as electrolytes in fluids, meaning they can dissolve to form electrically charged ions. Your cells exploit this property to produce electrical currents across their membranes, which permits transfer of water and nutrients, and generation of impulses that are necessary for nerve, heart and muscle function. Your well-being depends on strict regulation of potassium levels in your cells and in your bodily fluids. A low potassium level, known as hypokalemia, can be life-threatening.
Potassium and Water Loss
Because potassium is so critical for normal cell function, your body usually conserves it very efficiently. However, a number of conditions can cause your body to lose potassium, including severe or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, certain kidney diseases, alcoholism, overuse of laxatives, high levels of adrenal hormones and eating disorders. Congestive heart failure causes shifts in the fluids in your tissues and alters their potassium concentrations. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, the most common cause of potassium loss is the use of diuretic medications, which eliminate both potassium and water from your body.
Hypokalemia
"The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy" defines hypokalemia as a serum potassium level less than 3.5 mEq/L. Because your cells shift potassium into your serum to maintain serum potassium concentrations, a mildly depressed serum level can indicate that your total body stores of potassium are seriously depleted. Mild hypokalemia rarely causes symptoms, but potassium levels below 3.0 mEq/L can cause weakness, muscle cramping, low blood pressure and irregular heartbeats. Severe, untreated hypokalemia can lead to cardiac arrest. Hypokalemia is frequently treated with potassium chloride, either orally or intravenously.
Potassium Chloride
Many different preparations of potassium chloride, or KCl, are available for treating hypokalemia. Some, such as liquid KCl, can cause stomach irritation and even bleeding. Wax-impregnated and "microencapsulated" formulations are usually better tolerated. Most prescription forms of KCl contain 8 to 10 mEq, although higher doses are available. Doctors usually recommend taking your prescription in divided doses to avoid stomach upset. Several over-the-counter preparations of potassium salts -- potassium chloride, carbonate, citrate and others -- are also available.
Considerations and Precaution
Potassium chloride is frequently used to treat hypokalemia caused by diuretic medications, many of which eliminate potassium as well as excess fluid from your body. Hypokalemia caused by other conditions also responds to KCl. Although you require potassium in your diet every day -- recommended intake varies from 400 mg for infants to 5,100 mg for nursing mothers -- you should ask your doctor if potassium supplements are appropriate for you, especially if you have a medical condition or take prescription medications.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; PotassiumJane Higdon, Ph.D; Dec. 2010
- "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 18th Edition: Hypokalemia"; Mark H. Beers, M.D., Editor-in-Chief; 2006
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