What happens if your potasium levels get | Arthritis Information

 

I was reading my Avolox and it said to tell doctor if you have low potassium levels. He should have already known this. It says tell them if you are on corticosteriods and other things that could deplete potassium. Well i do and i am. Wonder how much fire i would be playing with if i take this stuff?Usually when it says about the corticosteriods they want you to be aware and your dr will usually monitor you closer.  Maybe one of the nurses can help out here...If you feel better, call your dr and just confirm that it will be alright.Yes mine potassium levels were a little low two months ago and we are going to keep an eye on that. I did not realize until just now that the pred could lower them. Because i have been on the pred a while now. That was right after my high dose pred when they were a little low. Just wondering how to know if something is going wrong. It isn't as if we get are blood done everyday or anything. Hi Milly, mine too, I have been told to eat more bananas!  Regards Janie.

Milly.....I do know that when it's low it cause muscle cramps. I try to eat a banana every day. I get lots of muscle cramps and take muslce relaxers at night cuz' they knock me out!

I LOVE the jars of baby food bananas! I use to eat more of it than my kids did when they were a baby.

Anyway, my RD told me to double my potassium pills to 8 PILLS a day! Did that for 3 days and had blood retested yesterday. She was supposed to call me today to tell me what amount I need to take now. She must not have received the results, because she didn't call.

Low potassium is called "hypokalemia" if you want to look it up. Usually, it only requires eating potassium rich foods. Usually, that info on a sheet you get with your rx is just to tell you the possibilities of taking the med. Call your doc and tell him/her that you are concerned about it. If they haven't lately, they will probably take a blood test.

Try not to worry. It's generally easily controlled, even if it does go down. Your doc should be monitering it.

Good Luck.

Hugs, Nini

 

Nini39431.0289699074I had hypokalemia on my last test results and my RD never said a word.  I visited by pcp later in the week and she asked what my RD was doing about the potassium and anemia problems and I said nothing.  She immediately put me on prescription iron pills and potassium. 

Bananas and orange juice should become your newest ally.  I take a b/p medication that depletes potassium and as long as I drink 8-oz of orange juice or eat a banana daily, I maintain just fine.

Avocados are another excellent food source of potassium, if you're getting tired of bananas.

From http://www.weightlossforall.com/potassium-rich-food.htm


Table of foods rich in Potassium:

All food quantities are 3 ounces (100grams)

 

 

 

 

Potassium rich foods Potassium Content Sodium content RDA % * Calories Soya flour 1650mg 9mg 47% 450 Black treacle 1500mg 97mg 43% 260 Apricots ready-to-eat 1380mg 15mg 39% 160 Bran Wheat 1160mg 28mg 33% 200 Tomato Puree 1150mg 240mg 33% 70 Sultanas 1050mg 20mg 30% 275 Raisins 1020mg 60mg 30% 270 Potato chips (crisps UK) 1000mg 1000mg 29% 450 All Bran 1000mg 900mg 29% 260 Wheatgerm 950mg 5mg 27% 300 Figs 900mg 60mg 26% 100 Dried mixed fruit 880mg 48mg 25% 230 Bombay Mix 790mg 800mg 23% 500 Papadums 750mg 2400mg 22% 370 Currants 720mg 14mg 22% 270 Sultana Bran 660mg 700mg 19% 300 Seeds average 650mg 20mg 18% 500 Nuts average (unsalted) 600mg 300mg 17% 600 Baked Potato + skin 600mg 12mg 17% 130 Roast Potato 550mg 9mg 16% 160 Oven chips 530mg 50mg 15% 170 Bran Flakes 530mg 1000mg 15% 320 Gammon lean 520mg 2200mg 15% 170 Soya beans boiled 510mg 2mg 15% 140 Plantain boiled 500mg 4mg 14% 112 Raisin Splitz 500mg 10mg 14% 340 Weetos 500mg 300mg 14% 370 Crispbread 500mg 220mg 14% 320 Muesli low salt 450mg 390mg 13% 360 Sardines 430mg 650mg 12% 200 Pilchards 420mg 370mg 12% 125 Veal 420mg 110mg 12% 230 Wholemeal Pasta 400mg 130mg 11% 320 Banana 400mg 1mg 11% 96
Gimpy-a-gogo39431.4876967593Milly. Potassium is vital in making the heart contract. Too low is as
dangerous as too high. Never take OTC potassium supplements as it can be
dangerous as well as hard on the stomach. Always let your doctor control
this med by prescription. Bananas and apricots are good sources. Once you
exhibit a low or high, your doctor will do regular lab work to make sure it
stays in normal range. thanks gimpy for the chart.  I love raisins so I think I will switch to those since I am tired of bananas.
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