Consumer medicine information

DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.


1. Why am I being treated with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection contains the active ingredient potassium acetate. DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is a potassium salt used to quickly increase the amount of potassium in your body.

This medicine is used to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalaemia) and can also be added to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions as a source of potassium and acetate ions.

For more information, see Section 1. Why am I being treated with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?

Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to potassium acetate or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.

Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection and affect how it works.

A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How is DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection given?

  • DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is given as a slow injection into a vein (i.e. drip).
  • This medicine must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
  • Your doctor will decide what dose of this medicine you will receive and for how long you will receive it. This depends on your medical condition and other factors, such as your weight.
  • Sometimes only a single dose of this medicine is required.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection given? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know during treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?

Things you should do
  • 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.
Driving or using machines
  • Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection affects you.
Looking after your medicine
  • DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward.
  • Keep in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know during treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Side effects include: redness, swelling, tenderness and/or pain at injection site, confusion, muscle weakness, cold or grey skin, irregular or rapid heart beat, tingling in fingers or toes, lack of energy and dizziness or lightheadedness. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of these side effects.

For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.

DBL™ Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

Active ingredient(s): potassium acetate


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I being treated with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?
2. What should I know before treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection given?
5. What should I know during treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I being treated with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection contains the active ingredient potassium acetate. DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is a potassium salt used to quickly increase the amount of potassium in your body. This medicine works by providing a source of potassium for your body to use.

DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection 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.

2. What should I know before treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?

Warnings

Do not use DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection if you:

  • are allergic to potassium acetate or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Symptoms of an allergic reaction 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.
  • 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.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any other medical conditions including:

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

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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

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

Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits involved.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

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

Some medicines may interfere with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection and affect how it works. 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.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection.

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

4. How is DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection given?

How it is given

  • DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection is given as a slow injection into a vein (i.e. 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 for how long you will receive it. 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.

If you think that you have been given too much DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection, you may need urgent medical attention. Symptoms of potassium acetate overdose include the side effects listed under Section 6. Are there any side effects? but are usually of a more severe nature.

You should immediately:

  • phone the Poisons Information Centre
    (by calling 13 11 26), or
  • contact your doctor, or
  • go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know during treatment with DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection?

Things you should do

  • Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any concerns before, during or after administration of DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection.
  • 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.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection affects you.

Looking after your medicine

  • DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward.
  • Keep in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
  • Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

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

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Side effects

Side effects What to do
  • redness, swelling, tenderness and/or pain at injection site
  • confusion
  • muscle weakness
  • cold or grey skin
  • irregular or rapid heart beat
  • tingling in fingers or toes
  • lack of energy
  • dizziness or lightheadedness
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of these side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

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.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

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

What DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
Potassium acetate
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
Water for injections

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

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

What DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection looks like

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

It is available in the following presentation:

  • 2.45 g/5 mL ampoule (AUST R 16266)

Who distributes DBL Potassium Acetate Concentrated Injection

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

This leaflet was prepared in January 2023.

Published by MIMS March 2023