Potassium Acetate
Potassium Acetate Prescribing Information
Potassium Acetate Injection (2 mEq/mL) is indicated as a source of potassium, for the addition to large volume intravenous fluids, to prevent or correct hypokalemia in patients with restricted or no oral intake. It is also useful as an additive for preparing specific intravenous fluid formulas when the needs of the patient cannot be met by standard electrolyte or nutrient solutions.
Potassium Acetate Injection, USP (2 mEq/mL) in the Pharmacy Bulk Package is designed for use with manual, gravity flow operations and automated compounding devices for preparing sterile nutrient admixtures.
Potassium Acetate Injection, USP (2 mEq/mL) is administered intravenously
Maximum infusion rate: The infusion rate should not exceed 1 mEq/kg/hr.
Normal daily requirements:
| Newborn: | 2-6 mEq/kg/24 hr. |
| Children: | 2-3 mEq/kg/24 hr. |
| Adult: | 40-80 mEq/24 hr. |
Intraosseous infusion can be an alternate route for drug administration when intravenous access is not readily available.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. (See
Do not administer unless solution is clear and seal is intact. Discard unused portion.
Potassium replacement therapy should be guided primarily by ECG monitoring and secondarily by the serum potassium level.
High plasma concentrations of potassium may cause death by cardiac depression, arrhythmias or arrest.
Use with caution in the presence of cardiac disease, particularly in digitalized patients or in the presence of renal disease.
Solutions containing acetate ion should be used with caution as excess administration may result in metabolic alkalosis.
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with potassium acetate. It is also not known whether potassium acetate can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Potassium acetate should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Potassium ions are known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.
The Pharmacy Bulk Package is for use in the Pharmacy Admixtures Service only.
A single entry through the vial closure should be made with a sterile dispensing set or transfer device. Transfer individual doses to appropriate intravenous infusion solutions. Use of a syringe with needle is not recommended as it may cause leakage and multiple entries will increase the potential of microbial and particulate contamination.
The above process should be carried out under a laminar flow hood using aseptic technique. Discard any unused portion within 4 hours after initial closure entry.
Potassium administration is contraindicated in patients with severe renal insufficiency or adrenal insufficiency and in diseases where high potassium levels may be encountered.
Adverse reactions involve the possibility of potassium intoxication. The signs and symptoms of potassium intoxication include paresthesias of the extremities, flaccid paralysis, listlessness, mental confusion, weakness and heaviness of the legs, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, heart block, electrocardiographic abnormalities such as disappearance of P waves, spreading and slurring of the QRS complex with development of a biphasic curve and cardiac arrest. (See
Potassium Acetate Injection (2 mEq/mL) must be diluted before use.
To avoid potassium intoxication, infuse potassium-containing solutions slowly. Potassium replacement therapy should be monitored whenever possible by continuous or serial electrocardiography (ECG). Serum potassium levels are not necessarily dependable indicators of tissue potassium levels.
Solutions which contain potassium ions should be used with great care, if at all, in patients with hyperkalemia, severe renal failure and in conditions in which potassium retention is present.
In patients with diminished renal function, administration of solutions containing potassium ions may result in potassium retention.
Solutions containing acetate ions should be used with great care in patients with metabolic or respiratory alkalosis. Acetate should be administered with great care in those conditions in which there is an increased level or an impaired utilization of this ion, such as severe hepatic insufficiency.
WARNING: This product contains aluminum that may be toxic. Aluminum may reach toxic levels with prolonged parenteral administration if kidney function is impaired. Premature neonates are particularly at risk because their kidneys are immature, and they require large amounts of calcium and phosphate solutions, which contain aluminum.
Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature neonates, who receive parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at even lower rates of administration.
Do not administer unless solution is clear and seal is intact. Discard unused portion.
Potassium replacement therapy should be guided primarily by ECG monitoring and secondarily by the serum potassium level.
High plasma concentrations of potassium may cause death by cardiac depression, arrhythmias or arrest.
Use with caution in the presence of cardiac disease, particularly in digitalized patients or in the presence of renal disease.
Solutions containing acetate ion should be used with caution as excess administration may result in metabolic alkalosis.
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with potassium acetate. It is also not known whether potassium acetate can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Potassium acetate should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Potassium ions are known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.
Potassium Acetate Injection, USP (2 mEq/mL) is a sterile, nonpyrogenic,
Each mL contains 196 mg of potassium acetate which provides 2 mEq each of potassium (K+) and acetate (CH3COO−). The solution may contain acetic acid for pH adjustment. The pH is 6.2 (range: 5.5 to 8.0). The osmolar concentration is 4 mOsmol/mL (calc.); specific gravity is 1.089.
The Pharmacy Bulk Package is a sterile dosage which contains multiple single doses for use only in a pharmacy bulk admixture program.
The solution is intended as an alternative to potassium chloride to provide potassium ion (K+) for addition to large volume infusion fluids for intravenous use.
Potassium Acetate, USP is chemically designated CH3COOK, and is comprised of colorless crystals or a white crystalline powder that is very soluble in water.
The Pharmacy Bulk Package is designed for use with manual, gravity flow operations and automated compounding devices for preparing sterile parenteral nutrient admixtures. The Pharmacy Bulk Package contains no bacteriostat, antimicrobial agent, or added buffer. Multiple single doses may be dispensed during continual aliquoting operations.
As the principal cation of the intracellular fluid, potassium plays an important role in fluid and electrolyte balance. The normal potassium concentration in the intracellular fluid compartment is about 160 mEq/liter. The normal serum potassium range is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/liter. The kidney normally regulates potassium balance but does not conserve potassium as well or as promptly as it conserves sodium. The daily turnover of potassium in the normal adult averages 50 to 150 mEq (milliequivalents) and represents 1.5 to 5% of the total potassium content of the body.
Acetate (CH3COO−), a source of hydrogen ion acceptors, is an alternate source of bicarbonate (HCO3−) by metabolic conversion in the liver. This has been shown to proceed readily, even in the presence of severe liver disease.