What medication is used to shift potassium into cells in hyperkalemia management?

Insulin is an essential medication used to manage hyperkalemia by facilitating the uptake of potassium into cells. When hyperkalemia occurs, elevated potassium levels can lead to life-threatening complications, particularly affecting cardiac function. Insulin achieves this by promoting the movement of potassium from the extracellular space into the intracellular space, effectively reducing serum potassium levels.

This action is often accompanied by administering glucose to prevent hypoglycemia, as insulin lowers blood sugar levels and can cause adverse effects if not countered. In clinical practice, this combination helps stabilize potassium levels rapidly, providing crucial time for further interventions or treatments to address the underlying cause of hyperkalemia.

Although other medications have roles in the broader management of hyperkalemia, they do not specifically facilitate the cellular shift of potassium like insulin does. Calcium compounds, for instance, are primarily used to protect cardiac cells from the effects of elevated potassium rather than actively reducing serum potassium levels.