Liquid and solid potassium chloride: bioavailability and safety.

Studies have suggested that microencapsulated preparations of potassium chloride may pose less risk to the upper gastrointestinal mucosa than the currently available wax-matrix preparations. Based on our own clinical experience and data available from the literature, we have concluded that (1) liquid and slow-release preparations of potassium chloride are safe and effective when used appropriately and (2) at present there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract are more prevalent with one slow-release preparation than with another.