POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCL)

(Poe-tas-ee-um  Khlor-ide)

 

 CONTENT

Purpose of Potassium Chloride

Side Effects

Giving the medicine

Missed or Vomited doses

Special Instructions

The prescription

  

PURPOSE OF POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCL)

1.       Potassium Chloride is a supplement for babies who do not have enough potassium in their body.
2.     This usually happens because your baby is on a  diuretic (medications to remove extra water from their body—water pills) for other health problems.
 

 

SIDE EFFECTS

1.       Fast heart rate

2.     Struggling to breathe or slow breathing or apnea

3.     Fussiness, irritability

4.     Tires easily and doesn’t finish a feeding

5.     Nausea and vomiting

6.     Diarrhea or Red or black diarrhea

 

 

GIVING THE MEDICINE

1.       Draw the medicine up in a syringe.

2.     Give the medicine with a feeding or right after a feeding.

 

 

MISSED OR VOMITED DOSE

1.       The medicine should be given as ordered by the baby’s doctor.

2.     If you forget a dose give the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.

3.     Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling or increasing the next dose.

4.     One missed dose is usually not a problem.

5.     If the baby vomits the dose or you have any questions, CALL THE BABY’S DOCTOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND ASSISTANCE.

 

 

SPECIAL INFORMATION

1.    KEEP ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

2.     KCL does not need to be refrigerated.  Store it at room temperature away from heat and direct light.

3.     Tell your baby’s doctor if your baby is also taking or has had:

a.         Lasix  (Furosemide)

b.        Spironolactone (Aldactone)

c.         Captopril

4.     Call the baby’s doctor before giving the medicine if you have any questions or think your baby has a side effect to the medicine.

5.     Do Not stop giving your baby this medicine without talking with the doctor.

 

 

THE PRESCRIPTION

1.       You may be given a prescription to fill when the baby is discharged or you may be given some of the medicine to take home.

·        Make sure you have some medicine for the baby’s next dose when the baby is discharged from the hospital.

2.     Always check the medicine when you get it from the pharmacy (drug store).

3.     It should be labeled with the same name and same dosage that your baby was getting in the hospital.

4.     The medicine’s instructions will tell you:

a.      How to give the medicine

b.     How often to give the medicine.

5.     Parents should always keep at least a week’s supply of each of the baby’s medicines on hand.

6.     Call your baby’s doctor if more medicine is needed and you do not have a refill on the prescription.

7.     The local drugstore pharmacist may also be able to help you obtain refills.

 

Reviewed/Revised:

9/05, 8/07

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