Durekal
Durekal - General Information
A white crystal or crystalline powder used as an electrolyte replenisher, in the treatment of hypokalemia, in buffer solutions, and in fertilizers and explosives.
Pharmacology of Durekal
The potassium ion is in the principle intracellular cation of most body tissues. Potassium ions participate in a number of essential physiological processes including the maintenance of intracellular tonicity, the transmission of nerve impulses, the contraction of cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle, and the maintenance of normal renal function. The intracellular concentration of potassium is approximately 150 to 160 mEq per liter. The normal adult plasma concentration is 3.5 to 5 mEq per liter. An active ion transport system maintains this gradient across the plasma membrane. Potassium is a normal dietary constituent and under steady-state conditions the amount of potassium absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract is equal to the amount excreted in the urine. The usual dietary intake of potassium is 50 to 100 mEq per day. Potassium depletion will occur whenever the rate of potassium loss through renal excretion and/or loss from the gastrointestinal tract exceeds the rate of potassium intake. Such depletion usually develops as a consequence of therapy with diuretics, primarily or secondary hyperaldosteronism, diabetic ketoacidosis, or inadequate replacement of potassium in patients on prolonged parenteral nutrition. Depletion can develop rapidly with severe diarrhea, especially if associated with vomiting. Potassium depletion due to these causes is usually accompanied by concomitant loss of chloride and is manifested by hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. Potassium depletion may produce weakness, fatigue, disturbances of cardiac rhythm (primarily ectopic beats), prominent U-waves in the electrocardiogram, and, in advanced cases, flaccid paralysis and/or impaired ability to concentrate urine. If potassium depletion associated with metabolic alkalosis cannot be managed by correcting the fundamental cause of the deficiency, e.g., where the patient requires long-term diuretic therapy, supplemental potassium in the form of high potassium food or potassium chloride may be able to restore normal potassium levels. In rare circumstances (e.g., patients with renal tubular acidosis) potassium depletion may be associated with metabolic acidosis and hyperchloremia. In such patients, potassium replacement should be accomplished with potassium salts other than the chloride, such as potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, or potassium gluconate.
Durekal for patients
Physicians should consider reminding the patient of the following:
- To take each dose with meals mixed in water or other suitable liquid.
- To take this medicine following the frequency and amount prescribed by the physician. This is especially important if the patient is also taking diuretics and/or digitalis preparations.
- To inform patients that this product contains as a dispersing agent the stool softener, docusate sodium, which may change stool consistency, or, rarely, produce diarrhea or cramps.
- To check with the physician at once if tarry stools or other evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding is noticed.
Durekal Interactions
Durekal Contraindications
Potassium supplements are contraindicated in patients with hyperkalemia since a further increase in serum potassium concentration in such patients can produce cardiac arrest. Hyperkalemia may complicate any of the following conditions: chronic renal failure, systemic acidosis such as diabetic acidosis, acute dehydration, extensive tissue breakdown as in severe burns, adrenal insufficiency, or the administration of a potassium-sparing diuretic (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene, amiloride).
Controlled-release formulations of potassium chloride have produced esophageal ulceration in certain cardiac patients with esophageal compression due to an enlarged left atrium. Potassium supplementation, when indicated in such patients, should be given as an immediate-release liquid preparation.
All solid oral dosage forms of potassium chloride are contraindicated in any patient in whom there is structural, pathological (e.g., diabetic gastroparesis) or pharmacologic (use of anticholinergic agents or other agents with anticholinergic properties at sufficient doses to exert anticholinergic effects) cause for arrest or delay in tablet or capsule passage through the gastrointestinal tract.
Additional information about Durekal
Durekal Indication: For use as an electrolyte replenisher and in the treatment of hypokalemia.
Mechanism Of Action: Supplemental potassium in the form of high potassium food or potassium chloride may be able to restore normal potassium levels.
Drug Interactions: Not Available
Food Interactions: Take with a full glass of water Take after a full meal.
Generic Name: Potassium Chloride
Synonyms: Chloride of potash; Chlorid draselny [Czech]; ClK; Dipotassium dichloride; Hydrochloric acid potassium salt (1:1); Monopotassium chloride; Potassium monochloride; Potassium thallium chloride (KTlCl); Tripotassium trichloride
Drug Category: Not Available
Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved; Withdrawn
Other Brand Names containing Potassium Chloride: Acronitol; Addi-K; Apo-K; Celeka; Cena-K; Chloropotassuril; Chloropotassuril diffu-K; Chlorvescent; Clor-K-Zaf; Colyte; Diffu-K; Duffi-K; Durekal; Durules; Durules-K; Emplets potassium chloride; Enpott; Enseal; Infalyte; K Tab; K-Care; K-Contin; K-Grad; K-Lease; K-Lor; K-Lyte Cl; K-Lyte/Cl; K-Norm; K-Predne-dome; K-SR; K-Sol; K-Tab; K-dur; K-lyte/C1; K. tab; KCL Retard; KCl; KCl-retard Zyma; KM potassium chloride; KSR; Kadalex; Kalcorid; Kaleorid; Kaleorod; Kaliduron; Kaliglutol; Kalilente; Kalinor-Retard P; Kalinorm; Kaliolite; Kalipor; Kalipoz; Kalitabs; Kalitrans Retard; Kalium Duriles; Kalium Durules; Kalium Retard; Kalium S.R.; Kalium SR; Kalium-Durettes; Kalium-R; Kalium-duriles; Kaliumchlorid; Kaochlor; Kaon CL; Kaon Ultra; Kaon-Cl; Kaon-ci; Kaskay; Kato; Kay Ciel; Kay-Ciel; Kay-EM; Kay-cee-l; Kayback; Kelp salt; Keylyte; Klor-Con; Klor-Con M20; Klor-Lyte; Kloren; Klorvess; Klotrix; Kolyum; Lento-K; Lento-kalium; Leo K; Leo-K; Micro-K; Micro-K Extentcaps; Micro-K LS; Micro-Kalium Retard; Miopotasio; Muriate of potash; Natural sylvite; Neobakasal; Nu-K; Peter-kal; Pfiklor; Plus Kalium Retard; Potasion; Potasol; Potassium Chloride 10meq in Plastic Container; Potassium Chloride BP; Potassium muriate; Potavescent; Rekawan; Rekawan Retard; Repone K; Repone-K; Rum-K; Sal digestnum sylvii; Sando-K; Selora; Slow-K; Span-K; Steropotassium; Super K; Ten-K; Trona muriate of potash; Trona potassium chloride; Ultra K Chlor; Ultra-K-Chlor;
Absorption: Potassium is a normal dietary constituent and under steady-state conditions the amount of potassium absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract is equal to the amount excreted in the urine.
Toxicity (Overdose): The administration of oral potassium salts to persons with normal excretory mechanisms for potassium rarely causes serious hyperkalemia. However, if excretory mechanisms are impaired, of if potassium is administered too rapidly intravenously, potentially fatal hyperkalemia can result. It is important to recognize that hyperkalemia is usually asymptomatic and may be manifested only by an increased serum potassium concentration (6.5-8.0 mEq/L) and characteristic electrocardiographic changes (peaking of T-waves, loss of P-wave, depression of S-T segment, and prolongation of the QT interval). Late manifestations include muscle paralysis and cardiovascular collapse from cardiac arrest (9-12 mEq/L).
Protein Binding: Not Available
Biotransformation: Not Available
Half Life: Not Available
Dosage Forms of Durekal: Solution Intravenous
Powder, for solution Oral
Tablet, extended release Oral
Liquid Intravenous
Tablet Oral
Capsule, extended release Oral
Solution Oral
Liquid Sublingual
Solution / drops Oral
Liquid Oral
Chemical IUPAC Name: potassium chloride
Chemical Formula: ClK
Potassium Chloride on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_Chloride
Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals
