What are the principles of potassium supplementation for hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is very common and may be caused by many reasons, so potassium supplementation is also very important for hypokalemia. The principles of potassium supplementation for hypokalemia should also be paid attention to, especially in the treatment of the primary disease. You can also eat more high-potassium foods in your diet.

1. Treat the primary disease

For the treatment of the primary disease, patients should eat more potassium-rich foods and take more medicines. Cereals, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, fresh orange juice and other foods are rich in potassium. Common potassium supplements include potassium chloride, potassium citrate, and potassium magnesium L-aspartate. Symptoms will improve by increasing your potassium intake by eating potassium-containing foods and taking medicines.

2. Patients with severe disease or those who cannot take potassium supplements orally need intravenous potassium supplementation

The dosage of potassium chloride for patients with mild potassium deficiency is 8 grams. The dosage of potassium chloride for patients with moderate potassium deficiency is 24 grams. The amount of potassium chloride used for patients with severe potassium deficiency is 40 grams. Potassium chloride should be replenished over 3-4 days.

3. It is not required to completely correct the low potassium condition within 1 to 2 days.

Potassium supplementation is a slow process and cannot be rushed. During potassium supplementation, neuromuscular performance, electrocardiogram, serum potassium, and urine output should be closely monitored.

4. Note

When supplementing potassium, pay attention to urine volume. If the urine volume is small, potassium supplementation should be cautious to avoid hyperkalemia. Observe the patient closely. If there is a tendency of heart failure and pulmonary edema, the infusion rate should be slowed down. If necessary, furosemide should be given. For patients with combined heart and kidney failure, close ECG monitoring and urine volume should be monitored. The potassium supplementation plan should be implemented cautiously on the basis of cardiotonic and diuretic (furosemide is preferred, potassium-sparing diuretics can be used slowly). When treating hypokalemia, pay attention to the occurrence of metabolic alkali poisoning, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia so as to correct them in time, especially hypomagnesemia.