Oral Potassium

NHSL Medicines Guidance
NHS Lanarkshire

Section Under Review

This page is under development. Please check again later.

Oral Potassium

Preferred list (P)

SANDO–K® effervescent tablets

  • Each tablet contains potassium 470 mg (12 mmol of K+) and chloride 285mg (8 mmol of Cl-).

KAY–CEE–L® syrup

  • Kay-Cee-L ® (potassium chloride 5mmol/5ml) syrup will be discontinued from late November 2024. 

    Please see National Patient Safety Alert October 2024 for actions to be taken by 31/10/2024. As per this NatPSA, there should be no new initiations of Kay-Cee-L ® syrup. 

  • Contains 1 mmol/mL each of K+ and Cl-.

Prescribing Notes:

  • Potassium-sparing diuretics are recommended instead of potassium supplements for prevention of hypokalaemia due to diuretics such as furosemide or thiazides when these are given to eliminate oedema. See Chapter 2. Cardiovascular System: Diuretics.
  • A potassium-sparing diuretic and potassium supplements should not be used concomitantly because of the risk of hyperkalaemia.

Potassium Removal

Prescribing Notes:

  • Calcium polystyrene sulphonate may be used to remove excess potassium in mild hyperkalaemia or in moderate hyperkalaemia when there are no ECG changes. Intravenous therapy is required in emergencies.
  • Calcium Resonium® enema kit is available from hospital pharmacy.

NHSL Joint Adult Formulary Key

To indicate the category of a formulary medicine, updated sections adopt the following key:

Preferred list (P): First-line formulary choices.

Total list (T): Alternative choices when preferred list options not effective/not tolerated, or not indicated.

Specialist initiation (S1): Specialist initiation, or on the advice of a Consultant or Specialist Practitioner in this therapeutic area. Continuation in primary care is acceptable.

Specialist use only (S2): Supply via hospital, Homecare Service or a hospital based prescription (HBP) for dispensing by community pharmacy. Not prescribed in primary care setting.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/01/2022

Next review date: 31/01/2025

Author(s): NHSL.

Version: Please refer to the introduction section for an explanation of the review dates above.

Approved By: ADTC

Reviewer name(s): ADTC.