Potassium tablets!

[Acarter2618]

Is there an inexpensive alternative to the giant potassuim pills? Big pills can't be crushed and they are too big to swallow.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Pharm 101

A tab cannot be sectioned unless the manufaturer of the tab has prescored the tab for this purpose.

Trying to break a non-scored tab into smaller pieces will result in dosing errors as the distribution of the active ingredient cannot be predicted throughout the body of the tablet.

If a tablet is misused by attempting to section it when the manufacturer has not intended the tab to be used in this way this will be considered a med error......

Cheers :)

The white, oblong potassium pills are scored - both sizes.

[DogCrazy]

Go for the liquid. I think the patient's K goes up quicker with the liquid than any other form, anyways.

[Caffeine_IV]

Liquid form or 10meQ capsules that you can open and mix up the contents.

[NC29mom, ASN, LPN, RN]

I crush them, or cut them in half. It's not a med error if you give them the whole thing anyway. (Duh.)

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/lexicomp/potassium%20chloride.html

I disagree, you are not supposed to crush the tablets. If you do, it does constitute a medication error. The link above gives administration instructions.

[Blackheartednurse]

Is there an inexpensive alternative to the giant potassuim pills? Big pills can't be crushed and they are too big to swallow.

When I used to work in the hospital, administration of the potassium pills were my personal pet peeve,I was always scared that my patients would choke,just like the big ibuprofen pill (I think 900 mg).What I did I always dissolved the pottasium pills regardless if the patient stated that they can swallow it,I used to split the pill in half then I would put in in a larger medication cup,put a little bit of water in it (15-20ml),wait until it dissolves and then add two spoons of apple sauce for a better taste I guess.I had a patient choke on a pill once when I was still in nursing school,not fun at all.

[Blackheartednurse]

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/lexicomp/potassium%20chloride.html

I disagree, you are not supposed to crush the tablets. If you do, it does constitute a medication error. The link above gives administration instructions.

You can dissolve them though,this was a common practice in a very prestigious,prive,large teaching hospital where I used to work.

With all the respect,I prefer side effects that my patient choking.Plus the potassium pill is made to be split (there is a visible line at the midline for an easy split)

[psalm51]

if difficulty swallowing, a liquid form is most appropriate. slow-release tablets cannot be crushed, chewed, or broken.

an excellent reference is the Institute for Safe Medication Practice: link posted bekloiw:

http://www.ismp.org/Tools/DoNotCrush.pdf

[clemmm78, RN]

You can dissolve them though,this was a common practice in a very prestigious,prive,large teaching hospital where I used to work.

With all the respect,I prefer side effects that my patient choking.Plus the potassium pill is made to be split (there is a visible line at the midline for an easy split)

A scored pill is different from a capsule though.

I just don't understand why the pills have to be so darned big. I'm sure if they put their mind to it, a much smaller form could be made. Maybe some of those pharma bosses need to be put on potassium for a while.

[anonymurse]

Pts seem to prefer Klor-Con fruit flavored powder dissolved in juice to the elixir or tablet forms. If your patient's diarrheic, examine the stool to make sure tablets aren't passing through their tract undissolved (very common).

[NotFlo]

Pharm 101

A tab cannot be sectioned unless the manufaturer of the tab has prescored the tab for this purpose.

Trying to break a non-scored tab into smaller pieces will result in dosing errors as the distribution of the active ingredient cannot be predicted throughout the body of the tablet.

If a tablet is misused by attempting to section it when the manufacturer has not intended the tab to be used in this way this will be considered a med error......

Cheers :)

All of the potassium tablets I've seen ARE scored.

[NotFlo]

Is there an inexpensive alternative to the giant potassuim pills? Big pills can't be crushed and they are too big to swallow.

At my facility we get two main types of potassium...the KDur extended release which are the big, non-crushable horse pills. They are scored so can be broken in half but can't be crushed.

Then we get these blue non-extended release capsules. The capsules are filled with sprinkles. They can be opened and mixed in pudding etc.

There is also a liquid, which is so horrid most people wont take it (a lady told me it tastes like poison even mixed in juice) or an orange flavored powder which doesn't seem quite as horrible tasting as the liquid. I save the liquid for G-tube patients.

We have most of our pts on the blue capsules now.

[NC29mom, ASN, LPN, RN]

you can dissolve them though,this was a common practice in a very prestigious,prive,large teaching hospital where i used to work.

with all the respect,i prefer side effects that my patient choking.plus the potassium pill is made to be split (there is a visible line at the midline for an easy split)

yes, i believe i stated that in my earlier post.......we regularly dissolve the pills where i work, i was commenting on the statement regarding crushing the pills.