How to Use

For diseaseds taking the liquid form of this drug:

• This drug must be diluted in at least one-half glass - 4 ounces of cold water or juice to reduce its possible stomach-irritating or laxative effect.
• If you are on a salt - sodium-restricted diet, check with your family doctor before using tomato juice to dilute your drug. Tomato juice has a high salt content.

For diseaseds taking the soluble granule, soluble powder, or soluble tablet form of this drug:

• This drug must be completely dissolved in at least one-half glass - 4 ounces of cold water or juice to reduce its possible stomach-irritating or laxative effect.
• Allow any "fizzing" to stop before taking the dissolved drug.
• If you are on a salt - sodium-restricted diet, check with your family doctor before using tomato juice to dilute your drug. Tomato juice has a high salt content.

For diseaseds taking the extended-release tablet form of this drug:

• Swallow the tablets whole with a full - 8-ounce glass of water. Do not chew or suck on the tablet.
• Some tablets may be broken or crushed and sprinkled on applesauce or other soft food. However, check with your family doctor or pharmacist first, since this must not be done for most tablets.
• If you have trouble swallowing tablets or if they seem to stick in your throat, check with your family doctor. When this drug is not properly released, it can cause irritation that may lead to ulcers.

For diseaseds taking the extended-release capsule form of this drug:

• Do not crush or chew the capsule. Swallow the capsule whole with a full - 8-ounce glass of water.
• Some capsules may be opened and the contents sprinkled on applesauce or other soft food. However, check with your family doctor or pharmacist first, since this must not be done for most capsules.

Take this drug immediately after meals or with food to lessen possible stomach upset or laxative action .

Take this drug only as directed by your family doctor . Do not take more of it, do not take it more often and do not take it for a longer time than your family doctor ordered This is especially important if you are also taking both diuretics - water pills and digitalis medication for your heart .

Dosage

The number of ounces of solution that you drink, or the number of tablets or capsules you take, depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the single or combination drug .

For potassium bicarbonate
• For oral dosage form - tablets for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 25 to 50 milliequivalents - mEq dissolved in one-half to one glass of cold water, taken one or two times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For potassium bicarbonate and potassium chloride
• For oral dosage form - granules for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 milliequivalents - mEq dissolved in one-half to one glass of cold water, taken one or two times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral dosage form - tablets for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20, 25, or 50 mEq dissolved in one-half to one glass of cold water, taken one or two times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For potassium bicarbonate and potassium citrate
• For oral dosage form - tablets for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 25 or 50 milliequivalents - mEq dissolved in one-half to one glass of cold water, taken one or two times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For potassium chloride
• For oral dosage form - extended-release capsules:
  • To replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 40 to 100 milliequivalents - mEq a day, divided into two or three smaller doses during the day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
  • To prevent potassium loss:
    • Adults and teenagers 16 to 24 mEq a day, divided into two or three smaller doses during the day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral dosage form - liquid for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 mEq mixed into one-half glass of cold water or juice, taken one to four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 3 mEq of potassium per kilogram - kg - 0.45 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be well mixed in water or juice.
• For oral dosage form - powder for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 15 to 25 mEq dissolved in four to six ounces of cold water, taken two or four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 3 mEq per kg - 0.45 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be mixed into water or juice.
• For oral dosage form - powder for suspension:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 mEq dissolved in two to six ounces of cold water, taken one to five times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral dosage form - extended-release tablets:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 6.7 to 20 mEq taken three times a day. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For potassium gluconate
• For oral dosage form - liquid for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 milliequivalents - mEq mixed into one-half glass of cold water or juice, taken two to four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mEq per kilogram - kg - 0.9 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight a day, taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be completely mixed into water or juice.
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 5 to 10 mEq taken two to four times a day. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For potassium gluconate and potassium chloride
• For oral dosage form - liquid for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 milliequivalents - mEq diluted in 2 tablespoonfuls or more of cold water or juice, taken two to four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mEq per kilogram - kg - 0.9 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be well mixed into water or juice.
• For oral dosage form - powder for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 mEq mixed in 2 tablespoonfuls or more of cold water or juice taken two to four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is base on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mEq per kg - 0.9 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be well mixed into water or juice.

For potassium gluconate and potassium citrate
• For oral dosage form - liquid for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 20 milliequivalents - mEq mixed into one-half glass of cold water or juice, taken two to four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mEq per kg - 0.9 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be well mixed into water or juice.

For trikates
• For oral dosage form - liquid for solution:
  • To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers 15 milliequivalents - mEq mixed into one-half glass of cold water or juice, taken three or four times a day. Your family doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mEq per kilogram - kg - 0.9 to 1.36 mEq per pound of body weight taken in smaller doses during the day. The solution must be well mixed into water or juice.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug and remember within 2 hours, take the missed dose right away with food or liquids. Then go back to your regular dosing schedule. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this drug from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.