Treatment of Hyperkalemia with Drugs

Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Hyperkalemia primarily affects the conduction of the heart and muscle nerves, with typical clinical manifestations including severe bradycardia, atrioventricular block, and even sinus arrest. Once hyperkalemia occurs clinically, immediate treatment should be administered. The first approach to treatment is promoting the excretion of potassium, using furosemide or other diuretics to increase renal potassium excretion, and taking a small dose of sodium polystyrene sulfonate orally to eliminate potassium. For life-threatening severe hyperkalemia, if serum potassium is greater than 6.5 mmol/L, hemodialysis treatment is necessary. The second aspect involves shifting potassium into cells, using calcium to alter cell excitability, which can protect the heart from the damage to the conduction system caused by hyperkalemia. Additionally, using glucose with insulin and administering sodium bicarbonate can be effective. It is important to note that all the above medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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How to rescue hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia must be dealt with immediately once it occurs. The usual treatments in clinical settings include promoting potassium excretion using furosemide or other loop diuretics to maximize renal potassium excretion, or using oral or rectal potassium-eliminating agents. For life-threatening hyperkalemia with serum potassium levels greater than 6.5 mmol/L, hemodialysis is necessary. Another approach is to facilitate the shift of potassium into cells, which is done through the administration of insulin with glucose, or sodium bicarbonate along with calcium gluconate that helps protect the myocardium, thus providing treatment and protective measures for hyperkalemia.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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The effects of hyperkalemia on the body

Hyperkalemia affects the body mainly in three aspects. Firstly, hyperkalemia impacts muscle tissues, clinically manifesting as symptoms such as muscle tremors. Secondly, the effect of hyperkalemia on the heart primarily manifests as decreased excitability, conductivity, and automaticity of the myocardium. It affects electrocardiograms, characterized by a depressed P wave, widened QS wave, reduced R wave, and elevated T wave. Thirdly, hyperkalemia affects acid-base balance; during hyperkalemia, potassium efflux from cells can lead to metabolic acidosis, resulting in alkaline urine.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Hyperkalemia can be seen in which diseases?

Hyperkalemia is a condition where the serum potassium concentration exceeds 5.5 millimoles per liter. Common causes include excessive intake of potassium, such as high-dose potassium penicillin intravenous infusion, ingestion of potassium-containing medications, or transfusion of large amounts of stored blood, all of which can lead to hyperkalemia. Additionally, patients with renal failure who experience oliguria or anuria may have reduced potassium excretion. In such cases, inappropriate potassium supplementation or the use of potassium-sparing diuretics can lead to severe hyperkalemia. Lastly, the movement of potassium from inside the cells—during metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis—causes ion exchange, leading to hydrogen ions entering the cells while potassium ions leak out, resulting in hyperkalemia.

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Written by Yang Li
Endocrinology
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What medication is used for hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia is primarily treated by promoting diuresis to enhance the elimination of potassium, while calcium gluconate can also be administered intravenously to counteract the inhibitory effects of potassium on the heart. Additionally, concentrated glucose with insulin can be used to shift excess potassium ions from the blood. Sodium bicarbonate can also be used to alkalinize the blood's pH to help reduce potassium levels. All these treatments must be conducted safely. In cases of severe hyperkalemia, dialysis may be necessary. If arrhythmias, bradycardia, or myocardial depression occur, the installation of a temporary pacemaker, along with hemodialysis, may be required. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Causes of Hyperkalemia

Common causes of hyperkalemia in clinical settings include: First, it is related to excessive intake. Generally, a high-potassium diet under normal kidney function does not cause hyperkalemia. It only occurs when there is excessive or rapid intravenous potassium supplementation, or when kidney function is impaired. Second, hyperkalemia caused by reduced excretion. Common reasons include renal failure, lack of adrenocortical hormones, and primary renal tubular potassium secretion disorders, all of which can cause hyperkalemia. Third, a large transfer of potassium ions from inside the cells to the outside can also cause hyperkalemia.