Table 2 Summary of treatment strategies in hyperkalaemia (see text for references).

Treatment	Immediacy of action	Reduction in [K+]p	Duration of action
Calcium gluconate/carbonate	1–3 min	Nil	30–60 min
Insulin (+/− dextrose)	15–30 min	0.65–1.0 mmol/l	4–6 h
Salbutamol (nebulised/intravenous)	30 min*	0.6–1.0 mmol/l	2–4 h
Ion exchange resin	2–3 h	0.5–1.0 mmol/1 g resin	4–6 h
Haemodialysis	Immediate	⩽1.5 mmol/l/h	While dialysis ongoing

*Possibly faster with intravenous compared with nebulised.