If your lab tests reflect a low potassium level, called hypokalemia, your physician might re-evaluate your medications as the possible source of loss. Certain medications have side effects that can increase potassium losses through the kidneys and bowel. Other medications can cause more potassium to be drawn into the cells, leaving less in the blood. Your physician might recommend a diet rich in potassium foods to compensate for the loss or prescribe supplements.
Diuretics
Diuretics are prescribed to increase water loss through the kidneys, but this loss of water as urine also includes minerals, such as sodium, chloride and potassium. Diuretics from two classifications, thiazide and loop, may cause potassium losses. Potassium is not an expected loss with diuretics, but you might experience this side effect. Your physician can choose to change your medication to a potassium sparing diuretic if losses can't be compensated with diet and supplements.
Insulin
Insulin, a medication used to control blood sugar levels with diabetes, can cause low potassium levels as a result of an increased potassium uptake by your cells. The consequence is that the potassium in the bloodstream, when measured for lab tests, reflects a low potassium. Increasing potassium in the diet with green leafy vegetables can help with losses.
Laxatives
Laxatives can cause an increase in fluids lost through the intestines including potassium. Abuse of laxatives or too frequent usage can increase the losses on a daily basis. Bulking agents, such as bran, gradually and mildly act to increase stool volume, which increases peristalsis, or movement of stool through the bowel. Bulking agents can establish regular bowel movements, decreasing potassium loss.
Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators help open airways in your lungs, treat bronchospasms and aid breathing and mucus secretion removal. Theophylline, used to treat chronic lung diseases, such as asthma, is a bronchodilator that can increase potassium loss. Theophylline, albuterol and terbutaline, also bronchodilators, cause an increase in potassium uptake in the cells, decreasing potassium in the bloodstream. Theophylline also causes a mild diuresis, or increased urine output, increasing potassium loss.
Antifungals
Fluconazole, an antifungal medication used to treat oral, esophageal and systemic infections, can cause potassium loss through your gastrointestinal tract. Not all antifungals cause potassium loss. Follow your physician's instructions concerning potassium supplements or increased dietary potassium.
Diet
Potassium-rich foods include bananas, tomatoes, oranges, melons, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Other vegetables, such as collard greens, turnip greens, spinach, peas and beans, are also high in potassium and can boost your intake to replace losses.
Member Comments