Serum potassium levels during and after terbutaline

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Intravenous terbutaline administration is known to decrease serum potassium levels.
• The duration and recovery pattern of terbutaline-induced hypokalemia remain largely unreported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the time course of serum potassium changes following intravenous terbutaline infusion in dogs.
• To determine the duration of hypokalemia induced by terbutaline administration.

Main Methods:

• A 2-hour intravenous infusion of terbutaline (0.5 micrograms/kg/min) was administered to dogs.
• Serum potassium levels were measured at baseline, during the infusion, and for 3 hours post-infusion.

Main Results:

• Serum potassium levels significantly decreased during the terbutaline infusion.
• Potassium levels returned to near baseline within 3 hours after the infusion was discontinued.
• The observed hypokalemia was transient, with a clear recovery pattern.

Conclusions:

• Intravenous terbutaline causes a temporary decrease in serum potassium in dogs.
• The hypokalemia is likely due to a shift of potassium from extracellular to intracellular spaces.
• Serum potassium levels normalize within a few hours after cessation of terbutaline infusion.