Clinical Pearls for Potassium Binders

Jaclyn Harth, PharmD, clinical assistant professor, Fairleigh Dickinson School of Pharmacy, discusses 1 of the clinical pearls for potassium binders. This video was filmed at the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) 54th Clinical Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jaclyn Harth, PharmD: So the 2 newest potassium binders are patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, which is also known as SZC. So the 2 are the most commonly used potassium binders, and 1 thing I would say to note for both of them is they’re both oral powders for suspension. So they’re to be placed in water. The patiromer has to be refrigerated so the packets have to be kept in the refrigerator until use, whereas the SZC does not have to be refrigerated. It’s important to counsel patients on the proper administration since they have to reconstitute these medications themselves.