Electrolyte
PREGNANCY RECOMMENDATION: Compatible
BREASTFEEDING RECOMMENDATION: Compatible
PREGNANCY SUMMARY
Potassium chloride is a natural constituent of human tissues and fluids. Exogenous potassium chloride may be indicated as replacement therapy for pregnant women with low serum potassium levels, such as those receiving diuretics. Because high or low levels are detrimental to maternal and fetal cardiac function, serum levels should be closely monitored.
FETAL RISK SUMMARY
In a surveillance study of Michigan Medicaid recipients involving 229,101 completed pregnancies conducted between 1985 and 1992, 35 newborns had been exposed to oral potassium salts during the 1st trimester (F. Rosa, personal communication, FDA, 1993). One (2.9%) infant with major birth defects was observed (one expected), a case of limb reduction and hypospadias.
BREASTFEEDING SUMMARY
Breast milk is naturally high in potassium with levels that are 3–4 times those in plasma (1). The concentration of potassium in mature milk is about 55–57 mg/dL (about 14–15 mEq/L) (1). Because potassium freely passes into and out of milk, the use of potassium chloride by a lactating woman with normal plasma potassium levels would have no adverse effect on a nursing infant.
Reference
1.Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM. Biochemistry of human milk. In Breastfeeding. A Guide for the Medical Profession. 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 1999:127–9.