Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP is indicated as a source of water and electrolytes.

WARNINGS Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity and infusion reactions, including anaphylaxis and chills, have been reported with products containing potassium chloride and sodium chloride. Stop the infusion immediately if signs or symptoms of a hypersensitivity or infusion reaction develops. Appropriate therapeutic countermeasures must be instituted as clinically indicated. Electrolyte Imbalances Hyperkalemia Potassium-containing solutions, including Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP may increase the risk of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can be asymptomatic and manifest only by increased serum potassium concentrations and/or characteristic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes. Cardiac conduction disorders (including complete heart block) and other cardiac arrhythmias, some fatal, can develop at any time during hyperkalemia. Continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring may be necessary to aid in the detection of cardiac arrhythmias due to hyperkalemia (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ). To avoid life threatening hyperkalemia, do not administer Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP as an intravenous push (i.e., intravenous injection manually with a syringe connected to the intravenous access) without a quantitative infusion device. Patients at increased risk of developing hyperkalemia and cardiac arrhythmias include those: with conditions predisposing to hyperkalemia and/or associated with increased sensitivity to potassium, such as patients with severe renal impairment, acute dehydration, extensive tissue injury or burns, certain cardiac disorders such as congestive heart failure or atrioventricular (AV) block (especially if they receive digoxin). who are at risk of experiencing hyperosmolality, acidosis, or undergoing correction of alkalosis (conditions associated with a shift of potassium from intracellular to extracellular space). treated concurrently or recently with agents or products that can cause or increase the risk of hyperkalemia (see DRUG INTERACTIONS ). with cardiac arrhythmias. Avoid use of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients with, or at risk for, hyperkalemia. If use cannot be avoided, use a product with a low amount of potassium chloride, infuse slowly and monitor serum potassium concentrations and ECGs. Hypernatremia and Hyperchloremia Electrolyte imbalances such as hypernatremia, hyperchloremia, and metabolic acidosis may occur with Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP. Conditions that may increase the risk of hypernatremia, fluid overload and edema (central and peripheral), include patients with: primary hyperaldosteronism; secondary hyperaldosteronism associated with, for example, hypertension, congestive heart failure, liver disease (including cirrhosis), renal disease (including renal artery stenosis, nephrosclerosis); and pre-eclampsia. Certain medications, such as corticosteroids or corticotropin, may also increase risk of sodium and fluid retention, see DRUG INTERACTIONS . Avoid Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients with, or at risk for, hypernatremia or hyperchloremia. If use cannot be avoided, monitor serum sodium and chloride concentrations and acid-base balance. Rapid correction of hypernatremia is potentially dangerous with risk of serious neurologic complications. Excessively rapid correction of hypernatremia is also associated with a risk for serious neurologic complications such as osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) with risk of seizures and cerebral edema. Hyponatremia Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP may cause hyponatremia. Hyponatremia can lead to acute hyponatremic encephalopathy characterized by headache, nausea, seizures, lethargy, and vomiting. Patients with brain edema are at particular risk of severe, irreversible and life-threatening brain injury. The risk of hospital-acquired hyponatremia is increased in patients with cardiac or pulmonary failure, and in patients with non-osmo…

CONTRAINDICATIONS Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP is contraindicated in patients with: Known hypersensitivity to potassium chloride and/or sodium chloride (see WARNINGS ). Clinically significant hyperkalemia (see WARNINGS ).

Drug Interactions Lithium Renal sodium and lithium clearance may be increased during administration of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP and result in decreased lithium concentrations. Monitor serum lithium concentrations during concomitant use. Other Products that Cause Hyperkalemia Administration of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients treated concurrently or recently with products that are associated with hyperkalemia increases the risk of severe and potentially fatal hyperkalemia, in particular in the presence of other risk factors for hyperkalemia. Avoid use of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients receiving such products (e.g., potassium sparing diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or the immunosuppressants cyclosporine and tacrolimus). If use cannot be avoided, monitor serum potassium concentrations. Other Products that Affect Fluid and/or Electrolyte Balance Administration of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients treated concomitantly with medications associated with sodium and fluid retention may increase the risk of hypernatremia and volume overload. Avoid use of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients receiving such products, such as corticosteroids or corticotropin. If use cannot be avoided, monitor serum electrolytes, fluid balance, and acid-base balance. Other Drugs that Increase the Risk of Hyponatremia Administration of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients treated concomitantly with medications associated with hyponatremia may increase the risk of developing hyponatremia. Avoid use of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in patients receiving products, such as diuretics, and certain antiepileptic and psychotropic medications. Drugs that increase the vasopressin effect reduce renal electrolyte free water excretion and may also increase the risk of hyponatremia following treatment with intravenous fluids. If use cannot be avoided, monitor serum sodium concentrations.

Pregnancy There are no adequate and well controlled studies from the use of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP in pregnant or lactating women and animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with this drug. Therefore, it is also not known whether Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP should be given to a pregnant woman only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP is administered to a nursing mother.

ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions associated with the use of Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Injection, USP were identified in clinical trials or postmarketing reports. Because postmarketing reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency, reliably, or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. General disorders and administration site conditions: Chills, and infusion site pain. Hypersensitivity reactions: generalized papules and erythema, rash, fever, vomiting, hypertension, tachycardia. Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hyperchloremia acidosis, fluid overload. Cardiac disorders: Cardiac arrest as a manifestation of rapid intravenous administration and/or of hyperkalemia. Nervous System Disorders: Hyponatremic encephalopathy. If an adverse reaction does occur, discontinue the infusion, evaluate the patient, institute appropriate therapeutic countermeasures and save the remainder of the fluid for examination if deemed necessary.