Can medications lower potassium?!
Question: yes, potassium is expelled via the kidneys and has an inverse relationship with sodium. If you have high sodium the potential exists to have low potassium. Sodium causes us to retain fluid (water follows sodium) and to expell potassium. So any drug that causes sodium to be retained within your system has the potential to lower your potassium levels. A natural occuring hormone that cause this are aldosterone from the adrenal glands.
Absorption of glucose into the cell through the use of insulin uses up potasium so insulin also has the potential of reducing the potassium levels.
Potassium can also be pulled into the cells and unavailable for use in the rest of the body when our bodies go into alkalosis (not enough acid). So anything that makes your system more alkaline (antacids or vomitting for example) also has the potential to lower potassium levels.
hope this helps
Answers: yes, potassium is expelled via the kidneys and has an inverse relationship with sodium. If you have high sodium the potential exists to have low potassium. Sodium causes us to retain fluid (water follows sodium) and to expell potassium. So any drug that causes sodium to be retained within your system has the potential to lower your potassium levels. A natural occuring hormone that cause this are aldosterone from the adrenal glands.
Absorption of glucose into the cell through the use of insulin uses up potasium so insulin also has the potential of reducing the potassium levels.
Potassium can also be pulled into the cells and unavailable for use in the rest of the body when our bodies go into alkalosis (not enough acid). So anything that makes your system more alkaline (antacids or vomitting for example) also has the potential to lower potassium levels.
hope this helps
Certain heart meds can do this....eat a banana daily to rebuild.
Absolutely! One of the main culprits is a diuretic, such as HCTZ. It can lower your level of other electrolytes as well. Talk to your doctor. He can regulate your dosage, or change meds for you.