Which medication can be used in the treatment of hyperkalemia aside from calcium gluconate?

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) can be used effectively in the treatment of hyperkalemia because it helps to shift potassium from the extracellular space into the cells, thereby lowering serum potassium levels. This effect occurs due to the increase in systemic pH that bicarbonate induces, leading to a cellular uptake of potassium in order to maintain electrical neutrality.

While calcium gluconate is often used as an immediate treatment to stabilize cardiac membranes in cases of severe hyperkalemia, sodium bicarbonate serves as an adjunctive treatment aimed at lowering serum potassium concentrations. This can be particularly useful in cases where acidosis is present, as bicarbonate addresses both the hyperkalemia and the acid-base imbalance simultaneously.

Other agents mentioned, such as spironolactone, are actually potassium-sparing diuretics and therefore not helpful in cases of hyperkalemia. Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication primarily used for cardiac issues and does not address high potassium levels. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that can help lower blood pressure and may promote potassium loss, but it is not the immediate intervention for hyperkalemia.

Thus, sodium bicarbonate is the most appropriate choice among the options provided for treating hyper