Potride

You should not use Potride if you have kidney failure, Addison’s disease, severe burns or other tissue injury, if you are dehydrated, if you take certain diuretics (water pills), or if you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia). Do not crush, chew, break, or suck on an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the Potride pill whole. Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Sucking on a potassium tablet can irritate your mouth or throat. Take Potride with food or just after a meal.

To be sure Potride is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Serious side effects of potassium include uneven heartbeat, muscle weakness or limp feeling, severe stomach pain, and numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or mouth.Do not stop taking Potride without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking potassium suddenly, your condition may become worse.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Potride: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Potride and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• confusion, anxiety, feeling like you might pass out;
• uneven heartbeat;
• extreme thirst, increased urination;
• leg discomfort;
• muscle weakness or limp feeling;
• numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet, or around your mouth;
• severe stomach pain, ongoing diarrhea or vomiting;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools; or
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Less serious Potride side effects may include:

• mild nausea or upset stomach;
• mild or occasional diarrhea;
• slight tingling in your hands or feet;

Take Potride exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Potride with food or just after a meal with a full glass of water or other liquid.

Do not crush, chew, or suck on an Potride tablet. Swallow the tablet whole. Sucking on a potassium tablet can irritate your mouth or throat.

If you are having difficulty swallowing whole tablets, you may try one of the following:

• Break the Potride tablet in half, and take each half separately with a glass of water.
• Prepare an aqueous (water) suspension as follows:
  1. Place the whole Potride tablet(s) in half glass of water (4 fluid ounces).
  2. Allow approximately 2 minutes for the tablet(s) to disintegrate.
  3. Stir for about half a minute after the tablet(s) has disintegrated.
  4. Swirl the suspension and consume the entire contents of the glass immediately by drinking or by the use of a straw.
  5. Add another 1 fluid ounce of water, swirl, and consume immediately.
  6. Then, add an additional 1 fluid ounce of water, swirl, and consume immediately.

Your treatment may include a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should eat or avoid to help control your condition.

Potassium-rich foods include: squash, baked potatoes (skin on), spinach, lentils, broccoli, brussels sprouts, zucchini, kidney or navy beans, raisins, watermelon, orange juice, bananas, cantaloupe, and low-fat milk or yogurt. Consume only the daily amounts recommended by your doctor or nutrition counselor.

To be sure Potride is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with potassium. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Do not stop taking Potride without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking potassium suddenly, your condition may become worse.

Store Potride at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the medication in a closed container.

A total of 422 drugs (2830 brand and generic names) are known to interact with Potride (potassium chloride).

• 391 major drug interactions (2687 brand and generic names)
• 8 moderate drug interactions (27 brand and generic names)
• 23 minor drug interactions (116 brand and generic names)

Potassium Chloride Tablets