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Potassium supplements
Key points about potassium supplements
- Potassium supplements are used to increase the amount of potassium in your body.
- Potassium supplements are also called Span-K® or Chlorvescent®.
- Find out how to them safely and possible side effects.
Potassium supplements are used to increase the amount of potassium in your body. Having the right amount of potassium in your body is important for the working of your heart, kidneys, liver, muscles and nerves.
Most people get enough potassium by eating a balanced diet. However, some conditions may lower your potassium levels, such as ongoing diarrhoea (runny poo) and vomiting (being sick), hormone problems (such as hyperaldosteronism) and medications such as diuretics (water pills), or corticosteroids.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, potassium supplements are available as tablets (known as Span-K® or Chlorvescent®) or can be given as an injection in the hospital.
- Always take your medicine exactly as your healthcare provider has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much to take, how often to take it, and any special instructions.
- The dose of potassium tablets will be different for different people. It will depend on the level of potassium in your blood. Your healthcare provider will check your potassium levels to make sure you're taking the right dose, especially if your other medicines have changed, or if you've been unwell.
- If you're not sure of the right dose to take, or if your dose changes, check you're taking the right amount with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
- You may be given potassium supplements as tablets (Span-K) or as effervescent tablets (Chlorvescent).
- Food: Take potassium supplements with or after food, to prevent an upset stomach.
- Span-K tablets: Swallow your tablets whole with a glass of water. Don't crush or chew them.
- Chlorvescent effervescent tablets: Dissolve each tablet in half a glass of cold water before swallowing. Make sure the tablets are completely dissolved before drinking the solution. Don't lie down straight after taking a dose, wait a few minutes first.
- Missed dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. But, if it's nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose at the usual time. Don't take double the dose.
Here are some things to know when you're taking potassium supplements. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.
- Other medicines: potassium supplements can interact with some medicines, herbal supplements and rongoā Māori, so check with your healthcare provider before starting potassium and before starting any new products.
- Monitoring: You may have blood tests from time to time to check the levels of potassium in your blood.
Like all medicines, potassium supplements can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. If you're concerned about any symptoms you think might be related to your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider. The following information offers some guidance but doesn't include all possible side effects.
Common side effects
Tell your healthcare provider if these side effects bother you.
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting): Try taking potassium after meals. Make sure the effervescent tablets are dissolved completely in water before taking them.
- Diarrhoea (runny poo).
- Bloating or gas in the stomach.
Tell your healthcare provider immediately or phone Healthline free on 0800 611 116 if these occur
- Muscle weakness.
- Changes in your heartbeat such as slower or irregular.
- Black coloured poo.
- Pain in your stomach or when you swallow food.
Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.
The following link provides further information on potassium supplements:
Potassium supplements(external link) New Zealand Formulary
Brochures
Medicines and side effects(external link) Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
5 questions to ask about your medications (external link)Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
References
- Potassium salts (oral)(external link) New Zealand Formulary
- Oral potassium(external link) New Zealand Formulary
- Span-K(external link) Medsafe datasheet, NZ
- Chlorvescent tablets(external link) Medsafe datasheet, NZ
- Potassium(external link) National Institutes of Health, USA
- Potassium salts(external link) Patient Info, UK
What are the side effects of taking potassium supplements?
Like all medicines, potassium supplements can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. If you're concerned about any symptoms you think might be related to your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider.
Common side effects of potassium supplements are feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea (runny poo) and bloating or gas in the stomach.
Read more about possible side effects of potassium supplements and what you can do about them.
What are potassium supplements used for?
Potassium supplements are used to increase the amount of potassium in your body. Most people get enough potassium by eating a balanced diet. However, some conditions may lower your potassium levels, such as ongoing diarrhoea (runny poo) and vomiting (being sick), hormone problems (such as hyperaldosteronism) and medicines such as diuretics (water pills), or corticosteroids.
Having the right amount of potassium in your body is important for the working of your heart, kidneys, liver, muscles and nerves.
If you have low levels of potassium in your blood your healthcare provider will check this and prescribe a potassium supplement if you need it.
Brochures
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
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Reviewed by: Stephanie Yee, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed:
