Consumer medicine information

DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

Potassium Acetate (poe-TAS-ee-um AS-a-tate)

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection (potassium acetate). It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor and pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given potassium acetate against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is used for

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is a potassium salt used to quickly increase the amount of potassium in your body. It is used to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalaemia).

This medicine can also be added to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions as a source of Potassium and Acetate ions.

This medicine works by providing a source of potassium for your body to use.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

This medicine is not addictive.

This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

Before you are given DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

When you must not be given it

You should not be given DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection if you have an allergy to potassium acetate. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to potassium acetate may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

You should not be given DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection if you have any of the following medical conditions:

  • high blood pH (alkalosis)
  • severe kidney disease
  • high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalaemia)
  • Addison’s disease
  • excessive loss of body water (dehydration)
  • severe heart disease
  • severe burns
  • heat cramps
  • continuing or severe diarrhoea
  • uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  • hyperadrenalism.

Before you are given it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any other health problems/medical conditions, including:

  • kidney disease
  • adrenal insufficiency
  • heart disease
  • low blood pH(acidosis)

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits involved.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are given DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and potassium acetate may interfere with each other. These include:

  • digoxin, a drug used to treat heart failure or heart disease
  • diuretics (fluid tablets) such as triamterene, spironolactone and amiloride
  • some medicines for blood pressure and heart disease
  • bicarbonate.

These medicines may be affected by potassium acetate, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given Potassium Acetate.

How DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is given

How it is given

Potassium acetate is given as a slow injection into a vein (ie drip).

This medicine must only be given by a doctor or nurse.

How much is given

Your doctor will decide what dose of this medicine you will receive and how long you will receive it for. This depends on your medical condition and other factors, such as your weight.

Sometimes only a single dose of this medicine is required.

If you are given too much (overdose)

As this medicine is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much.

Immediately call your doctor or telephone the Poisons Information Centre (In Australia, call 13 11 26;) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of potassium acetate overdose include the side effects listed in the ‘Side Effects’ section, but are usually of a more severe nature.

While you are being given DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

Your doctor may do some tests such as taking blood or monitoring the heart from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.

Things you must do

Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any concerns before, during or after administration of potassium acetate.

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are being given this medicine.

If you become pregnant after being given this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection.

This medicine helps most people with low levels of potassium in their bodies, but it may have unwanted side-effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side-effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • pain at injection site
  • confusion
  • muscle weakness
  • cold or grey skin
  • irregular or rapid heart beat
  • tingling in fingers or toes
  • lack of energy.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Some people may get other side effects while being given this medicine.

After being given DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

Storage

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C

Disposal

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection will be disposed of by a nurse or pharmacist.

Product description

What it looks like

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is a clear, colourless solution.

Ingredients

Each 5 mL ampoule of DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection contains 2.45g of potassium acetate and water for injection.

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection does not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Supplier/ Sponsor

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is supplied by:

Australian Sponsor:

Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
www.pfizer.com.au

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is available in the following strength:
2.45g/5ml Amp AUST R 16266

This leaflet was prepared in February 2021.

Published by MIMS March 2021