Potassium how long to work

Potassium supplements are best administered orally in a moderate dosage over a period of days to weeks to achieve the full repletion of potassium.

Although laboratory measurement of serum potassium is convenient, it is not always an accurate indicator of total body potassium. Measurement of hour urinary potassium excretion is appropriate for patients who are at high risk eg, those with CHF.

Patient adherence to potassium supplementation may be increased with compliance-enhancing regimens. Microencapsulated formulations have no unpleasant taste and are associated with a relatively low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects.

Potassium supplementation regimens should be as uncomplicated as possible to help optimize long-term compliance. Patients with drug-related hypokalemia ie, therapy with a non—potassium-sparing diuretic should receive potassium supplementation. In patients with asymptomatic hypertension, an effort should be made to achieve and maintain serum potassium levels of at least 4.

Low serum potassium levels eg, 3. Dietary consumption of potassium-rich foods and potassium supplementation should be instituted as necessary. Potassium replacement should be routinely considered in patients with CHF, even if the initial potassium determination appears to be normal eg, 4.

The majority of patients with CHF are at increased risk for hypokalemia. In patients with CHF or myocardial ischemia, mild-to-moderate hypokalemia can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. In addition, diuretic-induced hypokalemia can increase the risk of digitalis intoxication and life-threatening arrhythmias. In light of the above information and the potential for hyperkalemia to occur secondary to drug therapy with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, regular monitoring of the serum potassium level is essential in these patients.

At any time, stress can trigger the secretion of aldosterone and the release of catecholamine in response to low cardiac output, thereby precipitating a fall in the serum potassium level. Maintenance of optimal potassium levels at least 4. Patients with heart disease are often susceptible to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. In particular, such arrhythmias are associated with heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy characterized by an abnormal QRS complex , myocardial ischemia, and myocardial infarction both in the acute phase and after remodeling.

The coadministration of magnesium should be considered to facilitate the cellular uptake of potassium. It is prudent to maintain optimal potassium levels in patients at high risk for stroke including those with a history of atherosclerotic or hemorrhagic cerebral vascular accidents. Although the effectiveness of potassium supplementation in reducing the incidence of stroke in humans has not been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, prospective studies suggest that the incidence of fatal and nonfatal stroke correlates inversely with dietary potassium intake.

In addition, the association of stroke with hypertension is well known. Potassium levels should be closely monitored in patients with diabetes mellitus and potassium replacement therapy should be administered when appropriate. Data underscore the adverse effects of glucose and insulin on potassium levels and the high incidence of cardiovascular and renal complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. These factors are specific to patients with type 2 diabetes who have poorly controlled serum glucose levels.

Data suggest a link between potassium levels and lesions of the kidneys in patients with renal disease or diabetes. Animal studies have demonstrated that potassium may offer a protective effect on the renal arterioles. The clinical implications of these findings are not yet clear. Reprints: Jay N. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue.

Download PDF Top of Article Abstract Clinical implications of potassium depletion Protective effect of potassium Hypokalemia Potassium supplementation strategies: prevention vs repletion Compliance issues and potassium replacement therapy Potassium repletion and the role of magnesium Consensus guidelines for the use of potassium replacement in clinical practice Article Information References.

Table 1. View Large Download. Mandal AK Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. Med Clin North Am. Gennari FJ Hypokalemia. N Engl J Med. Tannen RL Potassium disorders. Intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and fiber and risk of stroke among US men.

Am J Hypertens. Ishimitsu TTobian LSugimoto KEverson T High potassium diets reduce vascular and plasma lipid peroxides in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Hypertens. J Vasc Res. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. Am J Physiol. Am J Cardiol. Ann Intern Med. Am J Med Sci.

Prospective study of nutritional factors, blood pressure, and hypertension among US women. Dietary electrolyte intake and blood pressure in older subjects: The Rotterdam Study. J Hypertens. Effects of oral potassium on blood pressure: meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Langford HG Dietary potassium and hypertension: epidemiologic data. Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents, Urinary and serum electrolytes in untreated black and white hypertensives.

J Chron Dis. Leier CVDei Cas LMetra M Clinical relevance and management of the major electrolyte abnormalities in congestive heart failure: hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia. Am Heart J.

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FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether potassium passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.

Follow the directions on your prescription label. Call your doctor if it feels like the tablet is getting stuck in your throat when you swallow it. Measure the liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon.

If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Liquid potassium should be mixed with at least 4 ounces one-half cup of cold water or fruit juice. Drink the mixture slowly, over 5 to 10 minutes in all. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away. Your treatment may include a special diet.

It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should eat or avoid to help control your condition. Store potassium citrate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep the medication in a closed container. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.

Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Overdose symptoms may include heavy feeling in your arms or legs, muscle weakness, limp feeling, slow or uneven heartbeat, chest pain, or feeling like you might pass out. Avoid taking potassium supplements or using other products that contain potassium without first asking your doctor. Salt substitutes or low-salt dietary products often contain potassium.

When hypokalemia occurs, it's not usually from problems with what you're eating. Instead, it may be because you're losing the mineral through urine, sweat or stool, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. And that can happen as a result of taking diuretic medications, overusing laxatives, having chronic diarrhea or vomiting, not getting enough magnesium, eating disorders such as bulimia, chronic kidney disease and certain genetic disorders.

Some psychiatric drugs can lead to hypokalemia too, per the NCBI. People with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis may also be prone to low potassium levels, according to the National Institutes of Health. Many cases of hypokalemia, even serious ones, have no symptoms, according to the Merck Manual. When they do occur, hypokalemia symptoms can be vague, including feeling tired and weak, having muscle cramps and being constipated, per the Mayo Clinic.

A more serious indication of hypokalemia is abnormal heart rhythms. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Although there is no specific information comparing use of potassium supplements in children with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of potassium supplements in the elderly with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.

Older adults may be at a greater risk of developing high blood levels of potassium hyperkalemia. Potassium supplements pass into breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.

In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these dietary supplements, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with dietary supplements in this class or change some of the other medicines you take. Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dietary supplements in this class.