K-Tab

K-Tab is a prescription medication used to treat and prevent low potassium levels due to poor dietary intake, certain diseases, or other drugs. K-Tab belongs to a group of drugs called electrolytes, which are compounds that help the body function normally.

This medication comes in tablet form and may be taken multiple times a day with food and water.

Common side effects of K-Tab include nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort or pain, and diarrhea.

K-Tab is a prescription medication used to treat and prevent low potassium levels due to poor dietary intake, certain diseases, or other drugs.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• AbbVie Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with K-Tab. See “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of K-Tab include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• gas
• abdominal pain

This is not a complete list of K-Tab side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium), and spironolactone (Aldactone)
• ACE inhibitors such as enalopril (Vasotec) and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
• vitamins containing potassium

This is not a complete list of K-Tab drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with K-Tab including:

• Hyperkalemia. K-Tab can lead to dangerously high levels of potassium, which could cause the heart to stop beating. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or kidney disease.
• Digestive tract injury. K-Tab can remain in the digestive system for too long, leading to injuries in the digestive tract (stomach, intestines). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of digestive tract injury:
  • stomach pain
  • swollen stomach
  • dark or black stools
• Metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the body). Patients should be treated with a particular potassium salt such as potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, or potassium gluconate. Use with K-Tab is not recommended.

Do not take K-Tab if you:

• have high potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
• have any physical, disease-related, or drug-related problems that would stop or slow the passage of this medication through the gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) tract
• have an enlargened heart that narrows the esophagus; a liquid form of this medication should be prescribed instead of the tablet

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of K-Tab, salt substitutes containing potassium should be avoided.

Before taking K-Tab, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• have a history of heart or kidney disease
• have an adrenal disease such as Addison’s disease
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

K-Tab falls into category C. This medication may be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to her unborn baby.

It is not known if K-Tab will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

The active ingredient in K-Tab is excreted in human breast milk. The effect of K-Tab on the nursing infant is not known.

Take K-Tab exactly as prescribed.

• This medication comes in tablet form and may be taken multiple times a day with food and water.
• Swallow tablets whole. Do not chew or crush contents of the tablet.
• For patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets whole, the tablet may be broken in half.
• If one cannot swallow tablet or half a tablet, try the following alternate methods of administration:
  • Prepare an aqueous (water) suspension as follows:
    1. Place the whole tablet in approximately one-half glass of water (4 fluid ounces).
    2. Allow approximately 2 minutes for the contents to dissolve.
    3. Stir for about half a minute after the contents have dissolved.
    4. Swirl the suspension and consume the entire suspension immediately by drinking or by the use of a straw.
    5. Add another one fluid ounce of water, swirl, and consume immediately.
    6. Then, add an additional one fluid ounce of water, swirl, and consume immediately.
  •  If not taken immediately, it should be discarded. The use of other liquids besides water for dissolving tablets is not recommended.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of K-Tab at the same time.

Take K-Tab exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Dose amount is determined according to the individual needs of each patient:

• For the prevention of hypokalemia: typically in the range of 20 mEq per day
• For treatment of potassium depletion: typically in the range of 40-100 mEq per day or more

Dosage should be divided if more than 20 mEq per day. No more than 20 mEq is given in a single dose.

If you take too much K-Tab, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store K-Tab at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.