Potassium level symptoms and conditions

I started Wellbutrin XL about a month ago. I had a lot of trouble sleeping after about a week. I didn't feel tired at all. I just saw my doctor a few days ago and he switched me to Wellbutrin SR. He said that it doesn't stay in your system as long so I should be able to sleep. Has anyone tried this? Let me know. Thanks!

I have taken hydrochlorothiazide for years and was told it was safe and worked well with blood pressure meds. I noticed that my weight gain would be 4 pounds on and off for no apparent reason. I also noticed my breasts felt like it did when I was nursing my babies when the milk came in. While on this med my potassium was off so I was on 3 fat potassium pills a day. Then I became light headed and became depressed and my mind was really awful. I knew I didn't have Alzheimer but knew something was wrong. Doctors thought I was a hypochondriac I am sure. I saw in Best Pills Worst Pills that you can have mental confusion as a side effect. I found out that when I went off of the pill for even a day the mental problems were gone and when I went back on the problems came back. After ingesting too much salt at a meal I ended up in ER. Doctor on call told me to quit my waterpill and also the potassium supplement, Since that time my weight has not fluated one ounce, my breasts no longer hurt and the mental chaos is gone. Such a relief to not have to worry where my potassium level was and never thought I would feel good mentally again as I was talking suicide. Meds they prescribe can kill us and we have to research all side effects ourselves it seems.

I'm a 65 year old type 2 diabetic with low-functioning thyroid. I was put on lisinopril over a year ago to prevent kidney problems. I have been on 10 mg tablets. Even before I was diagnosed with diabetes I had low blood pressure so that was not a problem.

My main side effects are hair loss, coughing, insomnia and leg cramps, joint pain. I think the lisinopril is pulling nutrients from my body. I told my family doctor about the side effects I had found but he seemed more concerned about the possibility of kidney problems than any of the side effects. I know my hair loss is not age related as both of my parents had full heads of hair when they died and my mother was also a type 2 diabetic.

My blood sugar is under control, tests usually 85-90 twice a day, last A1c was 5.5 which is quite good. I take Byetta and metformin twice a day, levothyroxine, enablex. I recently started taking magnesium as it was besides calcium plus D, a multivitamin all ordered by the doctor. I also take crestor. Feels like all I do is take pills!

My weight is 166 but I'm short, 4' 10", so still heavier than I should be for my height. I try to get exercise but have degenerative arthritis in lower spine. Funny that I developed bursitis in my right hip recently, I just thought the arthritis was spreading. Now I'm not so sure it might not be due to the lisinopril also. I stopped using it yesterday so we'll see how long it takes my body to recover from this drug.

Does anyone have any experience with how long it takes to stop coughing or for the hair to regrow after quitting lisinopril?

Ive been on Topamax since for 3 months for migraines and have lost 30 pounds, I simply am not hungry. At this point its not worrisome as I did have a little extra weight to lose, but I cant keep it up forever. My doctor lowered my dose from 100 Mg, to 75 mg, which I split and take 50 mg in the morning and 25 in the evening, it has not made a difference. I had a tremor prior to Topamax, which my neurologist thought would be less with the Topamax but in fact it was increased, so I had to start another drug, Mysoline to counteract the tremor. Ive been on that for about a month and it seems to be helping some, Im at least back to baseline. I recently learned that my potassium level has decreased which is causing muscle cramps and can cause many other more life threatening problems, so please watch out for that! It is a listed, albeit less common side effect of Topamax. (0.4%). You Dr. should have checked basic metabolic panel (BMP) and should check it regularly. Oh, and IM MIGRAINE FREE!

a little update. i took 5 mg lisinopril for 3 days, had blood work done on Monday and afterward, took the 4th pill. so the bloodwork reflected only 3 pills of 5 mg each. my potassium level, which right before starting lisinopril, was 3.9- was suddenly 6.4.
doctor called Tuesday, told me to stop taking lisinopril, come in for an EKG and have more blood work done on Thursday, 3 days after stopping
he just called to tell me that my potassium levels are back to normal

For all of you that has had problems with Yasmin or Yaz, I'm sincerely sorry. I'm really curious though to all of you, has anyone that read the leaflet that comes with the birth control box, have any problems? If you read that it may increase potassium which may cause serious heart and health problems so it would be good to get your potassium level checked before taking it. Side effects usually go away after 2-3months, has anyone have problems longer than that and ended up finding out what was the problem? I just wanted to know because my girlfriend is about to take it...and I wanted to know if one knew about the effects of this pill, and what precautions they had taken. Okay, thank you.

Increase in Potassium level.

I have been taking Yaz for a month and a half. The only medication I have been on in several years.
At work yesterday, my head started getting foggy. And my perception, was all messed up. After about 15 minutes of this not getting better, I started to lose my speech communication. I couldn't finish sentences or words. Stuff was jumbling together. In my right hand, two fingers went numb, then the whole hand. A client ended up driving me to the ER. I tried to call my receptionist, but I couldn't get the words out, my client took the phone and told her I was going to the ER. By the time I got to the ER, feeling started coming back, and I could communicate, in full sentences, if I paused between. By the time I was checked in and saw the doctor, I was able to tell him all that happened. With no problem, then a huge headache came on.
He wanted to rule out stroke, so did the CT scan and MRI. The nurse had some trouble getting blood from me. She kept mentioning that the blood kept clotting. The doctor sent me home saying my brain was perfectly healthy, and to go see my regular doctor.
A friend told me it was the birth control, because she could not take it, as she has lupus, and could have a stroke. She said it causes clotting. All of this was making sense to me. I looked up the side effects I had and found the "stroke symptoms", listed as rare, on Yaz.
My opinion of what happened, I had a blood clot that ended up passing through, and it could have become a stroke.
Another thing I read, besides the clotting. Was that oral contraceptives increase the potassium in your blood. I had been eating a banana for breakfast, 3 mornings in a row (the third on the day of this episode). The added potassium, could have been related to this episode.
How is anyone to know they can't eat something like "bananas" with birth control? I certainly didn't.
I am afraid to try any form of birth control at this point.

For 59 years I have had familial periodic paralysis. Lately my potassium level has been down. This problem started after taking albuterol for copd.
I take two puffs every 8 hrs .I could not understand why I was getting paralysis as it had tapered off considerably the last 15 years and I have not had paralysis at all for 3 years until the last 4 months. Now I will have to take small amounts of potassium every night but less than when I was younger.
The Albuterol has helped me considerably!

Both my 19 year old daughter and my 30 year old step daughter were put on Yasmin. Both began having heart problems. The eldest had heart palpitations, a racing heart and dizziness. The doctor discovered that her potassium level had shot up and her magnesium was down. They put her on magnesium to help control the racing heart. It helped, but then she became pregnant and had to lower the dose. The 19 year old has had the worst side effects. She was fine on ortho tricyclene, but when her doctor switched her to Yasmin her blood pressure shot up to 170/118. She began having chest pain. We pulled her off the Yasmin, but she has continued to have uncontrollably high blood pressure. The doctor ran several tests and has found no underlying cause as of this writing. She began taking 5 mg. of Norvasc, but was increased to 10 mg. to manage the high blood pressure.

THANKS EVERYONE. I thought I was going crazy. I had the dry hacking cough and throat tickle for months now. It's especially when I lay down to go to sleep and often wakes we from a dead sleep. NOt sure if it's related but I've noticed a huge increase in my gag reflex. Even brushing my teeth (let alone getting xrays at the dentist).
I'm stopping Lisinopril STAT. I actually switched to it cause I was having problems keeping my Potassium level in range w/ HCTZ but I'll take those Potassium horse pills over this stupid cough any day of the week.

I have been taking Yasmin for 1 year and 10 months. I have started having heart palpitations. I started noticing them in the evenings when I went to bed and in the mornings..now I notice them all the time. I just got back from the doctor and having an ekg, it showed the heart palps and he has referred me to a cardiologist. He advised me to stop taking Yasmin until my potassium blood level comes back since Yasmin can cause your potassium level to become elevated...thus leading to heart problems..

I feel horrible. Just the feeling of my heart "fip-flopping" makes me feel so weird. Waiting to see the blood work outcome...

I have severe persistent asthma which is sometimes induced by allergies. I am on Advair, Singulair, Allegra, Veramyst, Protonix, Prednisone, and Duonebs on a daily basis. I can also add in my MDI or my epipen as needed(I have anaphylaxis also, hence the epipen). I am prescribed to use the Duonebs every 6 hours every day no matter what, and I can increase it to every 4 or every 2 hours as needed. Due to the frequent use of Albuterol my potassium and magnesium levels are very low. The potassium level being low causes me to have extremely painful cramps in my calfs and the small of my back and irritability, and the magnesium level being low can then cause my asthma to be even worse. These are the long-term side effects that I have experienced, the short-term side effects include jitters, dizziness, headache, and elevated heart rate (my heart rate almost never raises, and yet after a Duonebs treatment one time my heart rate would jump from 70 to 130 to 70 all in a 10 second period of time). I do not like using Duonebs, and if I had a choice I would not, but it is the only thing that has given me any relief from my asthma. My MDI (Metered Dose Inhaler) side effects are limited to being jittery, and this has been eliminated by using a spacer chamber which my doctor prescribed and was completely free, I just had to pick it up at the pharmacy. The spacer chamber delivers the medicine more efficiently to your lungs instead of allowing some of it to go down the back of your throat into your stomach.

ON this poison Lisinopril for 2 mts
Anxiety which is extreme Shortness of breath, with or without exertion
Pounding of heart, irregular heartbeat, upset stomach, food tastes different, sweating, chest pains, arm and shoulder pain, felt like I was going to die,
am still on 5 mg per day but after reading the above I shall not be taking it
again.

John P

Like within the first couple of weeks taking it I started to cry about anything, my boyfriend would hang up the phone weird and I would start crying my eyes out cause I thought he hated me and like any little comment would make me cry. It also made me break out a little bit, and I cant have that. Oh and my mom was reading this book and Yasmin is one of the 181 do not use pills, cause it causes a serious rise in your potassium level. I am finishing this pack, which is my second and I am going to start taking Ortho-Tri-Cyclen.

LOW POTASSIUM LEVELS,DIZZINESS,NAUSEA,VOMITING,FEELING FAINT/FAINTING,MUSCLE CRAMPS/SPASMS,FREQUENT URINATION,FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS,TIREDNESS,WEAK,HEART PALPATATIONS; I AM ONLY 30 AND FEEL LIKE A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN.I HAVE TO HAVE MY POTASSIUM LEVEL CHECKED ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT KEEPS BOTTOMING OUT AND I WILL PASS OUT AND MY PRESSURE GETS TO LOW.BUT I NEED A BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION WITH A DIURETIC.WHAT ELSE CAN I USE I ASK YOU?

i have been taking Yamine for about a month and a half, after being on a generic pill for a couple years. I didnt know if these symptons i was having was caused by yasmine, but now i think it may be. I have been getting lightheaded, blurry eyes, shakiness, hot flashes..almost like a panic attack, and i have become very dehydrated, even though i have been drinking alot of water. I even went to the doctors for these symptons and they still don't have an answer, so i think it may be yasmine.my newest sympton as of yesterday is chest pain. also i feel like my heart is beating fast all the time, and i feel fatigued way too often, which is causing me to eat more, becauase i am starving way to often, and if i don't eat i feel like i am going to collapse. Also my sex drive has gone to non-existant- is that common? I workout all the time, and eat pretty healthy, so i don't know what else these symptons could be coming from. Is anyone else experiencing these sympons?

I have just come across this site, while looking to find out why I have been experiencing heart palpitations for the past two months - out of the blue!!! and usually "exercise" induced. I had some tests and have been told they are Premature Atrial Contractions "PACs". I started taking Yasmin in April, after having tried others over the past year (tri-cyclen lo and alesse) which did not work for me as the progestin was not strong enough. I am in my 40s and never took the pill before. Yasmin was great, it significantly reduced my "physical" pms (severe inflamation, severe bloating, severe sore breasts) which I experience for 2-3 weeks a month. However, sometime in mid to late June, I started getting palpitations/tremors out of the blue. The first episode freaked me out and lasted for about two weeks. At first I thought it was allergy medication mixed with my thyroid med, which can happen - but I cut out the allergy meds and still got them. They seem to come about 6hrs to a day after I fexercise/figure skate and they last from 2 to 5 five days. It's very irritating and nerve wracking, and I feel very agitated. I am also out of breath more than usual when walking up stairs, a little light headed and have some tightness in the chest. My legs also are weak, which makes no sense given my exercise regimen. I then lowered my thyroid replacement from .125 synthroid to .100 - too much thyroid med can cause some palpitations. Anyone who has mistakenly taken a second thyroid pill having forgotten that they already took one will understand. Even with the lower dose I am still getting the palpilations. I am totally at a loss as to why all of a sudden this is happening to me (perhaps perimenopause??). I have had the odd flutter here and there in my live, but nothing like this. It just doesn't make any sense ag ll. Can one's health just change like this overnight?. I am otherwise healthy, slim, have "lower" blood pressure (apprx 100-90/70-60)I skate 3 to 5 times a week, I have a full time job and yes I do push myself, but this is getting ridiculous. The only thing I can attribute it to is the Yasmin, ... but my symptoms only started after a few months not instantly, whereas it would seem that most of the the women here noticed the side effects faster. I hate to stop the Yasmin because I will have to return to pms "hell", but I suppose I will give it a try to see if the palpitations subside. At this point, I have been offered a low dose "beta blocker" and have refused. I am stunned to think that all of a sudden I have heart issues, especially since my Dr has always kidded me my that I will never have heart problems with my blood pressure. I will stop the Yasmin tonight and post another message in a few weeks one it is out my system. Here's hoping it is the Yasmin.
KarenSkaterGirl

A round yellow pill with "klor-con 10" printed on pill; I had trouble digesting the tablet. my potassium level would drop too low. Up to 6 to 8 pills, twice aday. Some of the pills would pass thru still intact, no wonder my potassium level was low. ATE foods in high potassium.Still low. Must have a very tough outer skin that I could not absorb. Now take Klor-con M 10,a long white pills, no tough skin, take 4 capsule twice aday along with food with high potassium and the Level is 4.2. I have CM.

Had cortisone shot two days later had severe pain in Heart (not chest) lasted no longer then 60 seconds. Pain grew intensity started at 1 and went to about an 8. Thought I was going to dye. Pain was horrible. Went away as fast as it came. About 5 minutes later got in car to go to work 3pm. 5 miles down the rd, arches of both feet started itching and tingling really bad, had to take shore off to itch, fingers then started tingling and itching too. Anus also started itching, thank goodness not bad, had hemmoriods removed two years ago. Made it to work, Caregiver, could not work still itching and tired, head dizzy, weakness, waited two hours before I could drive home. Was ill all weekend, heart started beating irregular, now it is worse. Told Doctor, she said I had anxiety attack and gave me another shot. Heart got worse, swelling of feet and fingers, depression, dizzy, really sad. Christmas time and could not shop because I was too tired and fatiqued. Went into hospital, potassium level low was ok before, irregular heart beat worse, heart hurts all the time, fatiqued all the time, short of breath, dizzy a lot. Cannot do the things I used to do. Cannot sleep on my back, have to sleep in recliner or wedge pillow, cannot stand having weight on my chest especially on my heart. Have to go slow, been 1year 2 months now and doc said it would go away after 7 months, another one of her patients had this happen to him and she said he was better in 7 months. Doctors say I will have to live with it now. I say no.

Potassium

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Pronunciations









albuterol

aldosterone

angiotensin

dialysis

digoxin

electrolytes

Fanconi's syndrome

hyperkalemia

hypokalemia

polyp

spironolactone

terbutaline

theophylline

Most of the body's potassium is located inside the cells. Potassium is necessary for the normal functioning of cells, nerves, and muscles.

The level of potassium in the blood must be maintained within a narrow range. A potassium level that is too high or too low can have serious consequences, such as an abnormal heart rhythm or even cardiac arrest. The potassium stored within the cells can be used by the body to help maintain a constant level of potassium in the blood.

Potassium balance is achieved by matching the amount of potassium taken in with the amount lost. Potassium is taken in through food and electrolyte-containing drinks and lost primarily in urine, although some potassium is also lost through the digestive tract and in sweat. Healthy kidneys are able to adjust the excretion of potassium to match changes in dietary intake. Some drugs and certain conditions affect the movement of potassium into and out of cells, which greatly influences the potassium level in the blood.

Hypokalemia
In hypokalemia, the level of potassium in the blood is too low. Excessive potassium loss usually results from vomiting, diarrhea, chronic laxative use, or colon polyps. Very occasionally, excessive loss results from excessive sweating in conditions of extreme heat and humidity. Many foods contain potassium, so hypokalemia is rarely caused by too little intake in people who eat a balanced diet.

There are several reasons why potassium may be lost in the urine. By far the most common is the use of diuretics that cause the kidneys to excrete excess sodium, water, and potassium. In Cushing's syndrome, the adrenal glands produce excess amounts of aldosterone, a hormone that causes the kidneys to excrete large amounts of potassium (see Adrenal Gland Disorders: Cushing's Syndrome). Excessive potassium is also excreted by people who eat large amounts of licorice or chew certain types of tobacco. People with Liddle's syndrome (see Tubular and Cystic Kidney Disorders: Liddle's Syndrome), Bartter's syndrome (see Tubular and Cystic Kidney Disorders: Bartter's Syndrome), and Fanconi's syndrome (see Tubular and Cystic Kidney Disorders: Fanconi's Syndrome) have rare defects that interfere with the kidneys' ability to conserve potassium.

Certain drugs (such as insulin

and the antiasthmatic drugs albuterol

, terbutaline

, and theophylline

) increase the movement of potassium into the cells and can result in hypokalemia. However, use of these drugs is rarely the sole cause of hypokalemia.

A mild decrease in the potassium level in the blood usually causes no symptoms. A more severe decrease can cause muscle weakness, twitches, and even paralysis. Abnormal heart rhythms may develop, especially in people with heart disease. Even mild hypokalemia is dangerous in people taking the heart drug digoxin

. The diagnosis is made by determining that the potassium level in the blood is low.

Potassium usually can be replaced by eating potassium-rich foods or by taking potassium supplements by mouth. Because potassium can irritate the digestive tract, supplements should be taken in small doses with food several times a day rather than in a single large dose. Special types of potassium supplements, such as wax-impregnated or microencapsulated potassium chloride, are much less likely to irritate the digestive tract.

Most people who take diuretics do not need to take potassium supplements. Nevertheless, doctors periodically check the potassium level in the blood so that the drug regimen can be altered if necessary. Alternatively, potassium-conserving diuretics (such as triamterene

, amiloride

, or spironolactone

) can be added to the diuretic therapy, but only in people whose kidneys are functioning normally.

Hyperkalemia
In hyperkalemia, the level of potassium in the blood is too high. Hyperkalemia usually results when the kidneys do not excrete enough potassium. Probably the most common cause of mild hyperkalemia is the use of drugs that decrease blood flow to the kidneys or prevent the kidneys from excreting normal amounts of potassium. Such drugs include triamterene

, spironolactone

, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Hyperkalemia can also be caused by Addison's disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient amounts of the hormone aldosterone, which stimulates the kidneys to excrete potassium (see Adrenal Gland Disorders: Addison's Disease). Kidney failure can result in severe hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia can also result when a large amount of potassium is suddenly released from the cells. A sudden release of potassium from the cells can result from crush injuries (involving the destruction of large amounts of muscle tissue), severe burns, or overdoses of crack cocaine. The rapid movement of potassium from the cells into the bloodstream can overwhelm the kidneys and result in life-threatening hyperkalemia.

Mild hyperkalemia causes few, if any, symptoms. Usually, hyperkalemia is first detected when routine blood tests are performed or when a doctor notices changes on an electrocardiogram. A high level of potassium in the blood is dangerous. It can cause the heart rhythm to become abnormal. If the level is very high, the heart can stop beating.

For mild hyperkalemia, reducing the potassium intake or discontinuing drugs that prevent the kidneys from excreting potassium may be the only treatment that is needed. If the kidneys are functioning, a diuretic may be given to increase potassium excretion.

For severe hyperkalemia, immediate treatment is essential. A resin that absorbs potassium from the digestive tract and passes out of the body in the stool can be given by mouth or enema. When this treatment is given, doctors also induce diarrhea so that the resin, with potassium absorbed into it, is quickly expelled.

When more rapid treatment is needed, the person may be given an intravenous solution containing calcium, glucose, or insulin

. Calcium helps protect the heart from the effects of a high potassium level but does not actually affect the potassium level. This protective effect lasts only a few minutes. Glucose and insulin

drive potassium from the blood into the cells, thus lowering the potassium level in the blood. If these measures do not work or if a person has kidney failure, dialysis may be necessary to remove the excess potassium.

Until I read some of these stories, I didn't know it might be the Levaquin tearing my whole body to pieces. I have been on 750mg. once daily for 2 weeks now for a severe sinus infection. I have 9 more days of it, but I'm calling my doctor in the am. I've had diarrhea for 2 weeks, and increasing muscle and bone pain that started in my lower back, now down through my legs, hands and fingers swollen and going to sleep all the time, tho this seems to have stopped...not the pain in every joint in my body is excrutiating. I really can't walk anymore, can't pick up my legs, have tremors in my hands, fingers, unbelievable pain in every bone in my body! I also have an active infection in my gall bladder and now a gall baldder attack. My gall bladder has to be removed asap. My potassium dropped to critical, 2.4 and my Internal Medicine Dr. can't seem to get it back up. I take blood tests every day to check my potassium level.

My sinus specialist prescribed this med for me. My hips and legs keep locking up and I'm afraid of what's happening to me. I have to have surgery now, and my body won't function. I will talk to both doctors tomorrow...and to my cardiologist. This medicine shouldn't be on the market. I hope there's a lawsuit...My neice went into kidney failure from Levaquin a few years ago. I didn't have any idea it was the meds until I found this site.
Is this reversible or permanent?

After doing exhaustive research this evening and reading people's entries-TAKE NOTE! Please READ UP ON HYPERKALEMIA prior to taking Yasmin or YAZ OR ANY PILL WITH THE SYNTHETIC dirosperonone. It causes increased potassium levels. Have your potassium level checked before you start this pill! I just read up on all of this tonight for the last 4 hours and this is really really serious. I think that I may have discovered that this may have been what has caused the squeezing sensations I have had in my chest for the last six months. I also had pressure and developed a heart murmur. Both of these symptoms as well as fatigue and paralysis are linked to hyperkalemia and can lead to heart attack/failure. Two resources to check: one is a letter from Health and Human Services written to one of the pharmaceutical companies who makes Yasmin-with notification that they must discontinue their advertisments because they are mis-leading in a dangerous way. If you google Yasmin and Health and Human Services, the letter should come up. I am going to try and paste a portion of it in here because I think that this is so critically important. I read through all these women's entries and I just think we are a bunch of ginny pigs and some of this is life threatening. Not the prescribing doctor, the RN or the pharmacist responded to my concerns. The RN thought it was anxiety which I've read in the last few months, women are often told-discounted because women are supposed to be "stressed". I found a great article a couple of months ago about how most women's symptoms are discounted so you have got to take personal responsibility for your health and making informed educated decisions about these things beyond responding to advertisements. Berlex, one of the pharmaceuticals-basically looking at a 1.8 billion dollar industry-our pharmaceutical industry is our number one revenue industry. Check out: eMedicine Alert-Hyperkalmia.

I have been taking maxide for over 10 years. Shortly after I began taking it I developed a rash on my face that was more like loss of pigmentation. Over the last several years it has gotten worse and began to spread to other parts of my body. I have had 8 biopsies, seen at least 12 different dermatologist all with no resolution. Recently I stopped taking maxide for two weeks because of a problem with my potassium level and miraculously, the pigmentation on my face began to come back. Unfortunately, I was put back on maxide to control my blood pressure because it was very effective and my doctor didn't want to experiement with too many other medications if it was working.

Anyone else had anything like this happen?