Potassium is an essential electrolyte needed for proper nerve and muscles cell function. Hypokalemia is a condition in which the potassium levels drop too low, which increases the risk for serious nerve and muscle cell dysfunction. According to the Mayo Clinic, low potassium levels are usually discovered through a blood test your doctor has ordered to determine the cause of symptoms you are experiencing, which may include abnormal heart rhythms, constipation, fatigue, muscle breakdown, muscle spasms or paralysis. If the blood test indicates that your potassium levels are too low, your doctor will help you to bring them up through supplements or medication.
Step 1
Immediately take a potassium supplement to get potassium quickly. A potassium supplement will cause a quick increase in potassium levels in your blood stream to help correct your hypokalemia. In severe cases, you doctor may need to prescribe a potassium supplement through an intravenous line to quickly raise your potassium levels. Be sure your potassium levels are checked after you take your supplement to make sure you did not over-correct your potassium levels, causing them to be too high. Take potassium supplements only if your doctor recommends this course of action.
Step 2
Take a prescribed diuretic medication to keep get potassium quickly. A diuretic medication acts on the kidneys to help excrete water. Certain diuretics, such as triamterene, amiloride, and spironolactone, are known to keep potassium in the body, which can help correct low potassium levels. Specifically, these medications act on certain potassium channels in the kidneys to increase potassium in the bloodstream. Take these medications as recommended.
Step 3
Determine if you have a thyroid problem, states Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health. In this case, you may be replacing potassium with a supplement, but your levels may not correct because of an underlying thyroid problem. Specifically, high thyroid levels can raise potassium to a point that can cause paralysis. Therefore, work with your doctor to treat and correct high thyroid levels to normalize potassium levels.
Tips and Warnings
- Low potassium levels may be caused by a variety of conditions, ranging from diarrhea, abuse of laxatives to chronic kidney failure. To help your doctor diagnose the underlying cause of low potassium levels, be sure to describe your symptoms in detail, as well as any medications you may be taking.
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