Evaluation of patients' preference of two potassium chloride supplements: Slow-K and K-Dur

Eighteen patients (mean age, 66 years) who were receiving oral potassium supplements while being treated with diuretics were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive Slow-K, a wax-matrix tablet, or K-Dur, a microencapsulated tablet, for two weeks and then the other drug for an additional two weeks; the daily dose was two to four tablets, equivalent to 20 to 40 mEq of potassium. Patients were asked to complete a survey about their compliance and preference ratings of both products. Of the 17 patients who completed the study, 14 stated that they preferred Slow-K to K-Dur and one preferred K-Dur to Slow-K; 14 patients made positive comments about Slow-K and seven made positive comments about K-Dur. The most common positive comment about Slow-K was its small size and ease in swallowing. Adverse reactions (mostly gastrointestinal) were reported by five patients during treatment with Slow-K and by six during treatment with K-Dur; three patients treated with K-Dur and none treated with Slow-K discontinued treatment because of adverse reactions.