potassium chloride
Brand names: Klor-Con, K-Dur
Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Tablets help treat or prevent low potassium levels in your blood. It comes as a tablet that slowly releases potassium into your body.
Drug Shortage Alert
potassium chloride is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$0.17/unit
Generic Price
$0.45/unit
Generic Available
Yes (78 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats or prevents low potassium (hypokalemia).
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Gas
Key warnings
Taking potassium chloride tablets can sometimes irritate your stomach or intestines.
How It Works
Potassium is a mineral that your body needs to work properly. This medicine replaces potassium in your body. It helps keep your heart, muscles, and nerves working right.
How to Take It
Take this medicine with meals and a full glass of water or other liquid. Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, or suck on the tablets. Your doctor may adjust your dose based on blood tests.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Potassium supplements are not expected to harm your baby if your potassium levels are normal.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from light and moisture, in a tightly closed container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 60,515 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 109,144 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
109,144
Death-Related Reports
15,552
Hospitalization Reports
48,372
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIARRHOEA | 7,867 |
| 2 | DYSPNOEA | 7,759 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 7,565 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 7,534 |
| 5 | DEATH | 5,492 |
| 6 | PNEUMONIA | 5,286 |
| 7 | ASTHENIA | 4,911 |
| 8 | HEADACHE | 4,723 |
| 9 | DIZZINESS | 4,703 |
| 10 | PAIN | 4,688 |
| 11 | VOMITING | 4,664 |
| 12 | FALL | 4,433 |
| 13 | OFF LABEL USE | 4,426 |
| 14 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 4,317 |
| 15 | ANAEMIA | 3,596 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Taking potassium chloride tablets can sometimes irritate your stomach or intestines. If you have severe vomiting, stomach pain, bloating, or bleeding, stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Triamterene and amiloride: Concomitant use is contraindicated (7.1) Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors: Monitor for hyperkalemia (7.2) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Monitor for hyperkalemia (7.3) 7.1 Triamterene or amiloride Use with triamterene or amiloride can produce severe hyperkalemia.
Mechanism: Both of these medicines increase the amount of potassium in your blood, and taking them together can cause potassium levels to become dangerously high.
What to do: Do not take these two medications together as the combination is restricted.
7.2 Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone Inhibitors Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, eplerenone, or aliskiren produce potassium retention by inhibiting aldosterone production.
Mechanism: Spironolactone makes your body keep potassium, and taking it with a potassium supplement can cause the mineral to build up too much.
What to do: Your doctor will need to check your blood potassium levels regularly to ensure they stay in a safe range.
7.2 Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone Inhibitors Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, eplerenone, or aliskiren produce potassium retention by inhibiting aldosterone production.
Mechanism: Both of these medications prevent your body from getting rid of potassium. Taking them together increases the risk of having too much potassium in your blood.
What to do: You should have regular blood tests to monitor your potassium levels while taking this combination.
7.2 Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone Inhibitors Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), spironolactone, eplerenone, or aliskiren produce potassium retention by inhibiting aldosterone production.
Mechanism: Aliskiren blocks a hormone that helps the body get rid of potassium, which can cause potassium levels to build up when taken with a supplement.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood potassium levels closely to ensure they stay within a safe range.
Concomitant administration of glycopyrrolate injection and potassium chloride in a wax matrix may increase the severity of potassium chloride-induced gastrointestinal lesions as a result of a slower gastrointestinal transit time.
Mechanism: Glycopyrrolate slows down your digestion, which can cause potassium tablets to sit in your stomach or intestines too long and cause sores.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about this combination and report any new stomach pain or digestive issues immediately.
Common Questions
Can I cut the tablet in half if it's too big to swallow?
What should I do if I feel sick to my stomach after taking this medicine?
Will this medicine interact with other medicines I am taking?
How often will I need blood tests?
Can I take this on an empty stomach?
What do I do if I accidentally take too much?
How long will I need to take this medicine?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
What are the signs of high potassium?
Are there foods I should avoid while taking this medication?
What are the common side effects of potassium chloride?
Does potassium chloride interact with other medications?
What drug class is potassium chloride?
Is potassium chloride safe during pregnancy?
Has potassium chloride been recalled?
Is potassium chloride currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Failed Dissolution Specifications.
The Harvard Drug Group LLC dba Major Pharmaceuticals and Rugby Laboratories
Failed Dissolution Specifications
Amerisource Health Services LLC
CGMP Deviations
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
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What the FDA Data Shows for potassium chloride
The FDA label for potassium chloride (sold under brand names such as Klor-Con, K-Dur) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Electrolyte Supplement class. This medicine treats or prevents low potassium (hypokalemia). Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Gas.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 60,515 voluntary reports. The database also lists 6 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.45 versus $0.17 for the brand.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 3 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: September 23, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages