What Medications Cause Low Potassium Levels?

Low potassium levels in the bloodstream cause symptoms such as weak muscles, abdominal pain, constipation and bloating. In its severe form, it can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and paralysis of the muscles. Low potassium levels, also known as hypokalemia, can be caused by many factors, including medications. According to the book "Hospital Medicine," edited by Robert M. Wachter, Lee Goldman MD and Harry Hollander, some medications cause hypokalemia by shifting potassium in the bloodstream into the cells or by increasing its loss through urine.

Diuretics

Diuretics are a group of medications that can cause hypokalemia. They are sometimes called water pills, and work by stimulating the kidneys to excrete water and sodium in urine. During the process of water removal, these drugs also promote potassium excretion. Thiazides, loop diuretics and osmotic diuretics are potassium-wasting diuretics that can cause this problem.

Fludrocortisone

Fludrocortisone is a mineralocorticoid, or steroid hormone, used to treat orthostatic hypotension -- a type of low blood pressure characterized by dizziness upon rising to a standing position from a sitting or lying position. It works by stimulating the kidney to retain more sodium and water. However, it also stimulates the kidneys to excrete more potassium.

Hydrocortisone

Oral or intravenous hydrocortisone is sometimes used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. This disease refers to a group of conditions characterized by difficulty breathing. A side effect of this medication is increased excretion of potassium by the kidneys.

Insulin

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which insulin is deficient or ineffective. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. It transports glucose from the bloodstream to the cells. People who suffer from diabetes may need to take insulin, depending on the type of diabetes they have. According to the Arizona Geriatric Education Center, when taken routinely in the home, insulin does not cause low potassium levels. However, when it is given in large doses to treat conditions like nonketotic hyperosmolar state, or diabetic coma, an acute complication of diabetes, potassium moves from the bloodstream and into the cell. This can cause hypokalemia.

Laxatives

Chronic use of laxatives to treat constipation can cause low potassium levels. Diarrhea can occur when a person misuses laxatives. When this happens, potassium is lost in the watery stool that is produced in diarrhea.

Epinephrine

Epinephrine is a beta-adrenergic drug used in COPD treatment. When administered, it causes potassium in the bloodstream to move into the cells. This can then lead to low levels of potassium.