Potassium chloride with potassium bicarbonate

Pinned product: Sando-K. §4.1 verbatim: 'Prevention and treatment of hypokalaemic states such as those associated with: i) Use of drugs which can induce potassium depletion e.g. frusemide, thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, carbenoxolone and cardiac glycosides ... ii) Potassium loss resulting from severe diarrhoea, vomiting or fistulas; iii) Acid-base disturbances ...; iv) Decreased intake of potassium ...; v) Since this medicinal product contains chloride ions (Cl-), it may be used in the treatment of hypokalaemia associated with hypochloraemic alkalosis.' — matches; route oral matches. §4.2 verbatim: 'Dosage is dependent upon the clinical conditions and diet of the patient, however the administration of 2 to 4 tablets daily (24 to 48 mmol K+) is likely to provide an adequate prophylactic or therapeutic dose in most patients. Large doses may be indicated in more severe hypokalaemic conditions when the dose should be regulated by the patient's response as determined by serum electrolyte levels and acid-base studies.' Guidelines: 'A drop in serum potassium level of 1 mmol/l represents a loss of about 100-200 mmol of potassium from body stores. While serum potassium levels below 2 mmol/l may warrant intravenous replacement therapy, following are approximate guidelines in less severe potassium depletion: For serum levels between 2-3 mmol/l, a maximum daily dose of 100-200 mmol K+ (8-16 tablets) and for serum levels between 3-4 mmol/l, a maximum daily dose of 50-100 mmol K+ (4-8 tablets) should be considered.' FIXED-COMBINATION SCOPE: the retrieved sections do not state the milligram strength of each component per tablet; the dose is therefore anchored on the mmol K+ the label itself equates with the tablet counts, and tablet counts apply to Sando-K only — they must not be applied to any other potassium chloride/bicarbonate tablet. Elderly: no evidence of different dosage requirement, but supervise carefully (poor diet or impaired renal function may indirectly affect dosage or tolerability). PAEDIATRIC: the §4.2 heading is 'Adults and children' and prints one dose with no separate paediatric figure, so no paediatric block is given — Children: use a children's formulary.