PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - ,
TI  - Enteric-coated potassium: why are hydrosaluric-K and salupres still marketed?
AID  - 10.1136/dtb.15.17.67
DP  - 1977 Aug 19
TA  - Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
PG  - 67--67
VI  - 15
IP  - 17
4099  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/15/17/67.short
4100  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/15/17/67.full
SO  - Drug Ther Bull1977 Aug 19; 15
AB  - About 1964 enteric-coated potassium chloride preparations became recognised as a specific cause of small-bowel ulceration, leading to stricture or perforation. Since then almost all manufacturers of slow-release potassium chloride supplements have used other formulations, (e. g. embedding the drug in a wax-core, as in Slow-K) with which the risk is much less, though it must still be considered in patients who already have oesophageal or small-bowel obstruction. Two preparations containing enteric-coated potassium remain available, however, though Merck Sharp & Dohme, the manufacturer, tells us that they are not promoted. The preparations are Hydrosaluric-K (hydrochlorothiazide + potassium chloride) and Salupres (hydrochlorothiazide + reserpine + potassium chloride), and cases of small-bowel ulceration associated with the use of these tablets continue to be reported,1 2 despite the warning (mandatory since 1967 for all solid preparations of potassium salts), to ‘discontinue use if symptoms or signs of small-bowel ulceration develop’.