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Description of the medicine: Potassium chloride (Kalii chloridum)

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (Kalii chloridum).

Synonyms: Potassium chloride, Kalium chloratum, Potassium Chloride.

Colorless crystals or white crystalline powder odorless; Salty on the palate. Soluble in water (1: 3), almost insoluble in alcohol.

Potassium is the main intracellular ion, just as sodium is the main extracellular ion. The interaction of these ions is important in maintaining the isotonicity of cells. The potassium content in the human serum is about 5, 11 mmol / l. Potassium ions play an important role in regulating body functions.

The cardiac muscle reacts to an increase in the potassium content by a decrease in excitability and conduction. Large doses depress the automatism and contractility of the myocardium. An increase in the concentration of potassium in the blood 4 times (which is practically possible only with intravenous administration) leads to cardiac arrest. Reducing the potassium content in the serum increases the risk of arrhythmias with the use of large doses of digitalis; An increase in the concentration of potassium reduces the risk of toxic effects of cardiac glycosides on the heart. Being an antagonist of cardiac glycosides with respect to the effect on heart rhythm, potassium at the same time does not counteract their positive inotropic action.

Potassium is involved in the process of carrying out nerve impulses and transferring them to innervated organs. Introduction to the body of potassium is accompanied by an increase in the content of acetylcholine and stimulation of the sympathetic department of the nervous system; With intravenous administration there is an increase in the adrenal secretion of the adrenals.

Potassium is also required for skeletal muscle contractions. It improves muscle contraction in muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis.

Recently, the ability of some drugs to influence the passage of potassium ions through the membrane potassium channels and to change the intracellular content of these ions has been revealed (see Hypotensive drugs, Minoxidil, Oral antidiabetics).

Potassium salts are easily absorbed when ingested and relatively quickly excreted by the kidneys.

Like other potassium salts (see Potassium acetate), potassium chloride has a moderate diuretic effect.

Indications for the use of potassium chloride are hypokalemia (including those associated with the use of hydrochlorothiazide and other saluretics, indomitable vomiting, profuse diarrhea, etc.), intoxication with digitalis preparations, arrhythmias of various origins (associated mainly with electrolyte disorders and absolute or relative hypokalemia) , Hypokalemic form of paroxysmal myoplegia [Potassium chloride is a part of a number of preparations for rehydration therapy (see Solutions "Disol", ..., "Quartasol").