Provided are immediate or prolonged administration of certain salts of K.sub.ATP channel openers such as diazoxide to a subject to achieve novel pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, therapeutic, physiological, metabolic and compositional outcomes in the treatment of diseases or conditions involving K.sub.ATP channels. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations, methods of administration and dosing of the salts that achieve these outcomes and reduce the incidence of adverse effects in treated individuals. Further provided are method of co-administering the salts with other drugs to treat diseases of humans and animals.