Metabolic acidosis is a general term used to describe abnormal increases in the relative acidity, or acid content, of your bodily fluids. You can develop several forms of this condition, each of which has its specific underlying causes. Use of the drug potassium chloride comes with a number of potential risks, but will not trigger cases of metabolic acidosis. Consult your doctor before taking potassium chloride.
Metabolic Acidosis Basics
You can develop metabolic acidosis if your body produces too much acid, or if your body has difficulty eliminating its acid wastes through your kidneys. Diabetics who don't control their blood glucose can develop a form of the disorder called diabetic ketoacidosis, which is characterized by the presence of acidic substances called ketone bodies in the bloodstream. People with abnormal accumulations of a substance called lactic acid can develop a form of the disorder called lactic acidosis. People who lose excessive amounts of a substance called sodium bicarbonate can develop a form of the disorder called hyperchloremic acidosis.
Acidosis Causes
In additional to uncontrolled diabetes, potential causes of ketoacidosis include excessive consumption of alcohol and starvation. Potential causes of lactic acidosis include hereditary metabolic disorders, heart failure, toxin exposure and the use of certain medications. Potential causes of hyperchloremic acidosis include diarrhea, use of medications called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, use of a medication called cholestyramine and the aftereffects of gastrointestinal or urinary bypass surgery. Additional substances that can trigger dangerous increases in your acid levels include salicylate, cyclosporine, ammonium hydrochloride, toluene, ethylene glycol, isoniazid and the elements iron and sulfur.
Potassium Chloride Effects
Potassium chloride is used to treat or prevent low levels of potassium in your bloodstream. You need potassium in your blood for reasons that include normal function of your heart, muscles and nervous system. Drugs.com lists potential relatively mild side effects of potassium chloride use that include slight tingling in your feet or hands and mild forms of nausea, diarrhea or upset stomach. More medically serious potential consequences of potassium chloride use include heartbeat irregularities, bloody or black stool, urination increase, extreme thirst, blood in sputum or vomit, severe hand or feet tingling, stomach upset and diarrhea or nausea.
Considerations
People with metabolic acidosis commonly develop abnormally high blood levels of potassium. In some cases, this elevation can lead to the onset of a high-potassium disorder called hyperkalemia. In people with previously low potassium levels, elevations associated with metabolic acidosis can lead to either normal blood potassium levels or levels that still fall below normal. Typically, the range of potential potassium changes is quite large, and doctors can't predict in advance how metabolic acidosis will affect any given individual. Consult your doctor for more information on metabolic acidosis and the potential side effects of potassium chloride.
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