Ammonium Chloride(ah mo’ nee um)
PREGNANCY CATEGORY C
Drug Classes
Electrolyte
Urinary acidifier
Therapeutic Actions
Converted to urea in the liver; liberated hydrogen and chloride ions in blood and extracellular fluid lower the pH and correct alkalosis; lowers the urinary pH, producing an acidic urine that changes the excretion rate of many metabolites and drugs.
Indications
Treatment of hypochloremic states and metabolic alkalosis
Acidification of urine
Contraindications and Cautions
Contraindicated with renal function impairment; hepatic impairment; metabolic alkalosis due to vomiting of hydrochloric acid when it is accompanied by loss of sodium bicarbonate in the urine.
Use cautiously with pregnancy, primary respiratory acidosis, high total CO2 and buffer base, lactation.
Available Forms
Injection—26.75% (5 mEq/mL)
Dosages
An oral dosage form of the drug is no longer commercially available.
Adults
Dosage is determined by patient’s condition and tolerance; monitor dosage rate and amount by repeated serum bicarbonate determinations. IV infusion should not exceed a concentration of 1%–2% of ammonium chloride and should not exceed 5 mL/min (approximately 3 hr).
Pediatric patients
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