Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Potassium chloride may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for
What Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup is The name of your medicine is Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v SyrupPotassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. In this leaflet your medicine will be referred to as Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup contains a medicine called potassium chloride and is a potassium supplement. Potassium chloride is a type of salt which your body needs to be healthy. What Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup is used for Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup is used to treat or to stop low levels of potassium in you body. If the level of potassium in your body is low, you will feel unwell. How Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup works Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup works by increasing the store of potassium in you body to the right levels. 2.
What you need to know before you take it
e Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup
Do not take Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup if:
- you are allergic to potassium chloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6). An allergic reaction may include rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue.
- you have a severe kidney disorder with little or no urine production.
- you suffer from uncontrolled Addison's disease (where the adrenal glands do not produce enough of a hormone called cortisol).
- you are dehydrated. You may feel thirsty or have a dry mouth.
- you have high potassium levels in your blood.
- you have recently had serious burns.
- you have crush injuries (which usually result from major trauma e.g. major road traffic injuries with damage to the chest). Do not take Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. Warning and precautions VAR/IB-004
1.3.3 Leaflet
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup if:
- you have ever had a stomach ulcer.
- you have any problems with your food pipe (oesophagus), stomach or bowel.
- you have problems with your kidneys or liver.
- you have heart disease or are taking digitalis (a drug for heart failure).
- you are elderly (over 65 years)
- you are taking any medicine that may increase the levels of potassium in your blood, such as diuretics (medicines that help you to pass urine), ACE inhibitors (medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems), ciclosporin, tacrolimus or digoxin.
- you have a build-up of acid in your blood.
- you have stiff muscles (myotonia congenita).
- you have severe breakdown of red blood cells.
- you have high blood pressure – your treatment may lower it. This medicine contains 1mmol potassium per ml. This should be taken into consideration if you have reduced kidney function or on a controlled potassium diet. If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. Periodic blood tests and electrocardiograph (ECG) should be performed while you are taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. Other medicines and Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines can affect the levels of potassium in your blood stream. These include ACE inhibitors (such as enalapril), aldosterone antagonists (such as spironolactone), angiotensin II receptor antagonists (such as losartan), ciclosporin, potassium sparing diuretics (such as amiloride) and tacrolimus. The risk of developing high levels of potassium in your blood stream is increased if you are taking potassium supplements and a medicine called digoxin (particularly if you take too much digoxin) or if you have kidney problems. If you are taking any of these medicines (or you are not sure) talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby unless your doctor advises it is essential. Driving and using machines Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use tools or machines. However, if you feel unwell do not drive or use any tools or machines. Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup contains sorbitol (E420), carmoisine (E122), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), sodium benzoate (E211) and propylene glycol. Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose. This means that it is essentially 'sodium free' This medicine contains 400 mg sorbitol in each ml of syrup. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect. This medicine contains carmoisine (E122) which may cause allergic reactions. This medicine contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). This medicine contains 1 mg benzoate salt in each ml of syrup. Benzoate salt may increase jaundice VAR/IB-004
1.3.3 Leaflet
(yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old). This medicine contains 10 mg propylene glycol in each ml of syrup. If your baby is less than 4 weeks old, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before giving them this medicine, in particular if the baby is given other medicines that contain propylene glycol or alcohol. 3.
How to take it
Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup
A doctor or nurse may give you this medicine or you may take it yourself. Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse have told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure. Taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup
- Always take your medicine after food.
- Always take the dose exactly as it written on the label. How much Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup to take Your doctor will decide how much medicine you should take and for how long you should take it. This will depend on a number of things such as:
- how low your potassium level is.
- the reason that it is low.
- the length of time it has been low. Adults, the elderly (over 65 years) and children aged 12 years and over
- The usual dose is 10 to 50 ml a day.
- Spread this out during the day as instructed by your doctor.
- If you are elderly and have kidney problems, your doctor may decide to give you less. This depends on the level of potassium in your blood. You may need to have regular blood tests to monitor this. Use in babies (up to 1 year of age), infants and children (age 1 to 12 years)
- For babies (up to 1 year of age) the usual dose is 0.5 to 0.75 ml per kg of body weight a day.
- For infants and children (age 1 to 12 years) the usual dose is 0.5 to 1.0 ml per kg of body weight a day.
- For children who weigh over 50 kg, the adult dose is usually given (see above). Spread this out during the day as instructed by your doctor. Use the syringe or spoon supplied by your pharmacist to help you give the right dose. If you take more Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup than you should If you or someone else takes more Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup than you should, talk to a doctor or nurse or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. You may:
- feel sick or confused
- feel weak or have a lack of energy
- feel numb or tingling
- have an uneven heartbeat If you forget to take Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup If you forget a dose, do not worry. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take your next dose as usual. If you stop taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup Talk to your doctor before you stop taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. If you stop taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup before you have finished your course of treatment, your symptoms may return. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. VAR/IB-004
1.3.3 Leaflet
4.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor straight away if you get:
- any sudden wheeziness
- difficulty in breathing
- swelling of the eyelids, face or lips
- rash or itching (especially affecting your whole body) The following side effects have also been reported:
- abdominal (tummy) discomfort
- diarrhoea
- nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting
- stomach irritation – this is rare and can be reduced by taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup with food. If these side effects trouble you, your doctor may lower your dose or tell you to stop taking Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see below). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. United Kingdom Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store 5.
How to store it
Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and the label on the glass bottle after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Store below 25°C. Do not use Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup if the appearance of the medicine has changed in any way. Do not use this medicine after 8 weeks of first opening. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment. 6.
Contents of the pack and other information
Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup contains 7.5% w/v potassium chloride as the active ingredient, equivalent to 1 mmol of potassium per ml.
- The other ingredients are sorbitol (E420), carmoisine (E122), wild cherry flavour F617, sodium benzoate (E211), saccharin sodium, ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), propylene glycol and purified water. What Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup looks like and contents of the pack Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup is a clear, red, slightly sticky and thick liquid which comes in 150ml or 500ml bottle. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer: VAR/IB-004
1.3.3 Leaflet
SyriMed, Unit 4, Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU, UK. Telephone: +44 (0)208 515 3700 PL 39307/0145 This leaflet was last revised in February 2026.
VAR/IB-004
1.3.3 Leaflet
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Official document: view the original leaflet →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
For the treatment of hypokalaemia and potassium deficiency of renal and extrarenal origin.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Posology
The dosage of Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup depends on the cause, degree, and duration of potassium depletion, and should be adjusted accordingly.
Adults: 10 - 50 mL/day in divided amounts after food is usually an adequate dosage.
Elderly:
No special dosage adjustment is usually necessary, but concurrent renal insufficiency should be taken into account, and serum potassium levels should be monitored if clinically necessary with dosage adjusted according to response.
Children:
As directed by the clinician.
Up to 1 year: The usual dose is 0.5 - 0.75 mL/kg body weight/day in divided amounts after food.
Aged 1 to 12 years: The usual dose is 0.5 - 1.0 mL/kg body weight/day in divided amounts after food. The dose should be administered using a graduated dropper.
Method of administration
For oral use.
4.3. Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
• Advanced, severe renal failure or impaired renal function with oliguria
• Inadequately treated Addison's disease
• Acute dehydration
• Hyperkalaemia from any cause and conditions involving extensive cell
• destruction (e.g. severe burns)
• Crush injuries
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Periodic evaluation of the patient's clinical status, serum electrolytes and the ECG should be carried out when replacement therapy is undertaken.
This is particularly important in patients with cardiac disease and in those receiving digitalis.
Care should be taken to avoid dosage in excess of requirements for patients with impaired renal function.
Oral potassium should be prescribed with caution in patients with a history of peptic ulcer
Potassium chloride preparations, alone or in combination with other medications, may induce ulceration, haemorrhage or stricture formation in the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the lower oesophagus and the small bowel. This possibility is increased in patients with local disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, with cardiovascular disease, or in those on prolonged therapy. Symptoms or signs suggesting ulceration or obstruction should be regarded as reasons to discontinue medication. Potassium salts should only be administered with extreme caution to patients with renal dysfunction or hepatic disease because of the risk of hyperkalaemia. Potassium supplements should be used with caution in patients who are receiving medications that may increase plasma potassium levels.
Some patients may develop potassium depletion despite the use of potassium supplements particularly in digitalised patients, or those with hepatic ascites. Monitoring of serum potassium is particularly necessary in patients with renal or cardiac diseases, especially the elderly.
Caution is also necessary in patients receiving potassium-sparing diuretics and ACE-inhibitors, and in patients with myotonia congenita or severe haemolysis. In patients with acidosis, the acid-base balance should be monitored. In patients with hypertension, it should be remembered that correction of hypokalaemia may lower blood pressure.
This medicine contains 1 mmol potassium per ml. To be taken into consideration by patients with reduced kidney function or patients on a controlled potassium diet.
This medicine contains sorbitol and may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect. Patients with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) should not take/be given this medicine.
This medicine contains carmoisine (E122) which may cause allergic reactions.
This medicine contains parahydroxybenzoates (E214, E216 and E218) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
This medicine contains sodium benzoate (E211). Benzoate salt may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old).
This medicine contains propylene glycol. Co-administration with any substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase such as ethanol may induce serious adverse effects in neonates.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Hyperkalaemia can result from the concurrent use of potassium supplements with ACE inhibitors, aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, ciclosporin, potassium sparing diuretics and tacrolimus. The risk of hyperkalaemia is increased in patients taking potassium supplements and digoxin, particularly in cases of acute digoxin overdosage. The incidence of hyperkalaemia is increased by renal impairment.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
No clinical problems have been encountered during pregnancy and lactation.
Nevertheless, Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup should not be used during pregnancy or by nursing women unless considered essential by the physician.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None Known.
4.8. Undesirable effects
In rare cases, oral potassium may invoke nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Potassium chloride, alone or in combination with other medications, may induce ulceration in the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the lower oesophagus and the small bowel. This possibility is increased in patients with local disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with cardiovascular disease or in those on prolonged therapy. If there are any signs of gastric irritancy, Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup, in common with all other potassium salts, should be given after food. Symptoms or signs suggesting ulceration or obstruction of the tract should be regarded as reason to discontinue medication. Hyperkalaemia associated with excessive intake of potassium salts will rarely occur with Potassium Chloride 7.5% w/v Syrup which normally acts as an emetic after inadvertent high dosage. Ingestion of potassium chloride may induce hyperkalaemia in patients with familial hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis. A moderate hyperkalaemia may be asymptomatic; if suspected reference to the section on overdosage is recommended.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store
4.9. Overdose
Hyperkalaemia. Poisoning is usually minimal below 6.5 mmol per litre but may be severe above 8 mmol per litre. However, comparatively low doses may cause adverse effects when excretion is delayed as in renal insufficiency. The absolute toxicity is dependent on other electrolytes and acid-base levels.
Hyperkalaemic symptoms include paraesthesia of the extremities, listlessness, mental confusion, weakness, paralysis, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, heart block and cardiac arrest.
Hyperkalaemia is often asymptomatic. However, increasing serum potassium levels can be detected by changes in the ECG; initially the appearance of tall, peaked T waves, followed by a widening of the QRS complex bending into the abnormal T waves. P-wave voltage decreases and the PR interval is prolonged.
Severe cardiac toxicity may be treated with calcium gluconate (10-20ml of a 10% injection given over 1-5 minutes with ECG monitoring). The effect may be transient and the injection may need to be repeated.
Raised serum potassium levels respond to administration of dextrose (300- 500ml/hr of 10 or 25% solution), dextrose and insulin (as for dextrose with 10 units of insulin per 20g dextrose), or sodium bicarbonate solution.
Cation exchange resins may be used, or in severe cases peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis may be necessary.
Caution should be exercised in patients who are digitalised and who may experience acute digitalis intoxication in the course of potassium removal
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Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.