Potassium Chloride

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on October 21, 2024
Written by Alyson Powell Key
6 min read

Potassiumis an essential mineral your body needs to function normally. It plays a crucial role in regulating your heartbeat. You can find it in many foods, but a lack of it can lead to hypokalemia or potassium deficiency.

Potassium chloride (KCI) is a form of salt that doctors prescribe to treat low potassium levels in the blood. You may have lower-than-normal potassium levels in your blood because of a disease or certain medications.

Potassium chloride helps raise potassium levels in the body. About 98% of the body’s potassium is inside cells, especially in muscle cells. Potassium inside cells helps balance fluid levels and controls the electrical activity of cell membranes. In heart cells and nerves, potassium moves out of the cells through special channels to reset their electrical charge after each beat or signal. If potassium levels are too low (hypokalemia) or too high (hyperkalemia), it can affect the heart’s normal rhythm, which can be bad. But potassium problems rarely affect the brain directly.

Apart from using potassium chloride to flavor your food, your doctor may also prescribe it as medication. Doctors use potassium chloride to treat the following conditions:

Hypokalemia

Your doctor will have your blood tested to check if your potassium levels are low. It may also be necessary to check your heart using an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart’s electrical activity. These tests will determine how long your doctor will treat you with potassium.‌

Kidney diseases

People with kidney disease have higher odds of having low potassium, especially during earlier stages of kidney disease.

Vomiting and diarrhea

Vomiting, diarrhea, or both can lead to significant potassium loss from the digestive system.

Hypokalemia caused by medications

The most common cause of low potassium is losing too much through urine, often because of medications that make you pee more. Your doctor usually prescribes these medications, called water pills or diuretics, if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.

Potassium chloride is a naturally occurring salt derived from the ground or sea. It's a potassium-based salt that food manufacturers mostly use to replace sodium chloride, or table salt. In some applications, it can help lower the presence of sodium by as much as 70%. It doesn’t carry a high health risk like sodium-based salts do.

You can use potassium salts just like regular table salt. Many food companies use potassium chloride as a substitute to lower the sodium levels in their processed foods. With increasing consumer demand for lower-sodium products, manufacturers have found potassium chloride to be a safe alternative. It's now the leading reformulation option for lowering sodium levels in food products. Unfortunately, it may leave a metallic aftertaste.‌

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that the U.S. population eats and drinks too much salt and not enough potassium. Potassium is essential as it reduces the effects of too much sodium. Too much sodium leads to an increase in blood pressure, putting you at risk of cardiovascular disease.

In an advisory, the U.S. FDA encourages manufacturers to use potassium chloride in processing food. They should clearly label it as “potassium salt.” The word “salt” encourages food makers to use this product as an alternative to sodium chloride. FDA believes this change in ingredient labeling will help consumers eat and drink less salt, and it won't be misleading.

‌The best way to take potassium chloride as medicine is to swallow the pill whole. Chewing, crushing, breaking, or sucking on it will irritate your mouth or throat. Plus, doing so causes too much of the medication to be released at once. As for the powder form, mix it with half a cup of cold water or fruit juice and drink it slowly. Make sure to use the exact dose and don't use it longer than your doctor suggests. You can also take potassium chloride through an extended-release tablet, extended-release capsule, injectable, oral solution, and powder for oral solution.

Before you start or stop taking the medicine, you should first talk to your doctor. Sudden withdrawal might worsen your condition.

Don't use potassium chloride if:

You also need to let your doctor know if you have ever had:

Let your doctor know if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding before taking the medication. It's unclear whether it can harm the unborn or breastfeeding child as studies are still in the early stages. Don't give potassium chloride to a child as medication without consulting a doctor first.

Side effects of taking potassium chloride may include:

Potassium chloride allergy

If you have signs of an allergic reaction after taking potassium chloride in food or as medicine, get emergency medical help. Hives and swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue are some symptoms of an allergic reaction. Other signs to look out for are:

  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Severe throat irritation
  • Pain, irritation, or swelling at the point of injection
  • Stomach bloating
  • A high potassium level along with weakness, nausea, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, and loss of movement

Stomach issues

You may have severe stomach pain, vomiting, and stomach bloating. Plus, you may have signs of stomach bleeding such as coughing up blood, bloody poop, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Hyperkalemia

Avoid taking potassium supplements or products that contain potassium when you’re on potassium chloride medication. You might end up with too much potassium in the blood, leading to health complications such as irregular heartbeats or a heart attack.

Drug interactions

This medication may interact with the following:

  • Blood pressure or heart disease medications
  • Medications that weaken your immune system
  • NSAIDs and pain and inflammation medications
  • Other potassium supplements
  • Salt substitutes
  • Diuretics
  • Medications for stomach problems
  • Eplerenone
  • Sodium polystyrene sulfonate

KCI overdose

If you or someone you know has taken too much KCI, contact 911 or poison control right away. 

Contact your doctor if you're taking KCI and have any of these signs of hyperkalemia: 

  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Chest pain
  • An irregular, pounding, or fluttering heartbeat
  • Arrhythmia (irregular, fast, or slow heartbeat)
  • Muscle weakness or numbness in your limbs

Also, contact your doctor if your symptoms don't improve or new symptoms appear.

Potassium chloride (KCl) is an important mineral that helps your body function properly. It regulates your heart's rhythm and keeps fluid levels balanced within cells. While you can find potassium naturally in many foods, some conditions or medications can lead to low levels, called hypokalemia, which may require you to take potassium chloride supplements. People with kidney disease, vomiting, or diarrhea have high odds of low potassium. It is also important to follow medical advice closely when using potassium chloride since too much can lead to dangerous side effects, such as hyperkalemia.

Is potassium chloride available over the counter?

You can find some forms of potassium in stores without a prescription, but you should still talk to your doctor before taking them.

What is the use of potassium chlorate?

Potassium chlorate (KClO3) is a strong chemical that helps things burn quickly and is used in several ways. It has been part of explosives, fireworks, safety matches, and disinfectants. If you've studied chemistry in high school or college, you might have used it in experiments to create oxygen.

What drink is high in potassium?

You can get high potassium levels by drinking carrot juice, tomato juice, and other vegetable juices. 

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