Home : Drugs A - Z : Potassium acetate

What is this medicine?
POTASSIUM (poe TASS i um) is a natural salt that is important for the heart, muscles, and nerves. Too much or too little potassium in the body can cause serious problems. This medicine is used to treat low potassium.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• confusion
• fast, irregular heartbeat
• feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
• low blood pressure
• numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• unusually weak or tired
• weakness, heaviness of legs

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• nausea, vomiting
• stomach upset

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for infusion into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.

What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• eplerenone
• sodium polystyrene sulfonate

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• heart medicines
• medicines for cold or allergies
• medicines for Parkinson's disease
• medicines for the stomach like metoclopramide, dicyclomine, glycopyrrolate
• NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
• other potassium supplements
• salt substitutes
• some diuretics

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Hyperkalemia, including that complicating chronic renal failure, systemic acidosis (e.g., diabetic acidosis), acute dehydration, extensive tissue breakdown (e.g., in severe burns), adrenal insufficiency, or concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene).
• Severe renal impairment with oliguria, anuria, or azotemia.
• Use of solid oral dosage preparations in patients with structural, pathologic (e.g., diabetic gastroparesis), and/or pharmacologic (e.g., induced by anticholinergic agents) causes for arrest or delay in GI transit.
• Use of extended-release preparations in patients with esophageal compression caused by an enlarged left atrium.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• adrenal disease
• heart disease
• high levels of potassium in the blood
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to potassium, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.