X
xtremlee
Is there any other way to get potassium than take a BIG horse pill that I know I cannot swollow? Is the Lassix going to deplete my bosy of potassium if I dont take it?
Lee
Lee
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
K
KathyH
I would not skip the potassium. If your potassium gets low it can cause your heart to beat irregular. May your Dr can give you some klor which is a powder you mix with Orange juice instead of the pill? Things like banana's, and potatoes are high in potassium, but I wouldn't stop the Potassium without checking first.
Kathy H
Kathy H
Nancy
Well-known member
Kathy is right. Do not stop your potassium unless the doctor tells you to. And do not get some at the health store and try that either. Take exactly what your doctor tells you to. Too much potassium can cause problems, and too little potassium can cause problems.
Lasix will deplete your body of it and you could be in serious trouble.
We had a member recently who had low potassium and she was quite ill.
Lasix will deplete your body of it and you could be in serious trouble.
We had a member recently who had low potassium and she was quite ill.
Johnny Stephens
Well-known member
Nothing new to add here other than another voice to say don't stop your potassium! I believe you would have to eat a wheelbarrow full of bananas to get that amount of potassium. Lasix, Demadex, Furosamide, all deplete potassium, leaving you at risk for arrythmias.
There are other pills than the rough horse pill (I took that one too). My pharmacy was able to find a coated tablet that was MUCH easier to swallow
There are other pills than the rough horse pill (I took that one too). My pharmacy was able to find a coated tablet that was MUCH easier to swallow
H
Harpoon
Yup yup yup....
I've been on lasix for a few years now and i can attest very well to what happens if your potassium levels drop.
I'll get NASTY muscle cramps, usually in my calves and sometimes in my hands, if my levels drop too low. I don't want to think about what happens if they get lower than that.
I'm on lasix (furosemide) and another diuretic caled spironolactone. The mechanism for spironolactone is different than the lasix and it helps your body retain some of the potassium that might be lost with the lasix.
Eat foods high in potassium like bananas (that's the highest) potatoes, orange juice (check the labels, as brands very in their content) apricots...
One other thing you can do, though I'm careful with this one, is using potassium chloride instead of regular table salt. It's best to get the advise of a doctor first. I've been on a sodium restricted diet for quite a while and found potassium salt to be a nice substitute. I only use it on baked or mashed potatoes and eggs though.
Talk to your doctor about the pill. There may be other brands/versions that you can take or you may be able to take a few smaller pills rather than one big horsepill.
I've been on lasix for a few years now and i can attest very well to what happens if your potassium levels drop.
I'll get NASTY muscle cramps, usually in my calves and sometimes in my hands, if my levels drop too low. I don't want to think about what happens if they get lower than that.
I'm on lasix (furosemide) and another diuretic caled spironolactone. The mechanism for spironolactone is different than the lasix and it helps your body retain some of the potassium that might be lost with the lasix.
Eat foods high in potassium like bananas (that's the highest) potatoes, orange juice (check the labels, as brands very in their content) apricots...
One other thing you can do, though I'm careful with this one, is using potassium chloride instead of regular table salt. It's best to get the advise of a doctor first. I've been on a sodium restricted diet for quite a while and found potassium salt to be a nice substitute. I only use it on baked or mashed potatoes and eggs though.
Talk to your doctor about the pill. There may be other brands/versions that you can take or you may be able to take a few smaller pills rather than one big horsepill.
Harpoon is right about the pill size. Much easier to take 2 smaller tablets than that big ole horse tablet. I don't take potassium, but I have worked in hospital pharmacies for many years so I've seen the difference in sizes. If you tell your doctor you don't like swallowing the big tablets he may be willing to change you to the smaller tablets.
Ross
Well-known member
Check into a liquid form of it. I could not swallow that horse pill after being trached, so they got me a liquid form of it. Still does not taste good no matter which way you take it, but you do need it.
H
Harpoon
Oh yeah, if all else fails, get a pill splitter or maybe a pill crusher...
I have a splitter I got from CCF when they sent me home with a months supply of the meds I needed. There were two seperate pills I had to cut in half for the right dosage. If you crush the pills you may be able to mix it in with a small cup of applesauce and just eat that.
I have a splitter I got from CCF when they sent me home with a months supply of the meds I needed. There were two seperate pills I had to cut in half for the right dosage. If you crush the pills you may be able to mix it in with a small cup of applesauce and just eat that.
Just make sure you check with your doctor before splitting or crushing tablets. Some of the delayed release tablets should not be split or crushed or it effects the delayed release action of the tablet. If the tablet is scored, more than likely it can be split (otherwise they wouldn't score it).
H
Harpoon
Yup.
J
JimChicago
How frequently should blood levels of potassium be checked?
What happens when the lasix decreases potassium but an ace-inhibitor increases potassium? Personally I take an ace-inhibitor daily but only take lasix as needed.
From:
http://www.mycustompak.com/healthNotes/Drug/ACE_Inhibitors.htm
>>>>
Potassium
An uncommon yet potentially serious side effect of taking ACE inhibitors is increased blood potassium levels.1 2 3 Taking potassium supplements,4 potassium-containing salt substitutes (No Salt®, Morton Salt Substitute®, and others),5 6 7 or large amounts of high-potassium foods at the same time as ACE inhibitors could cause life-threatening problems.8 Therefore, individuals should consult their healthcare practitioner before supplementing additional potassium and should have their blood levels of potassium checked periodically while taking ACE inhibitors.
>>>>>
What happens when the lasix decreases potassium but an ace-inhibitor increases potassium? Personally I take an ace-inhibitor daily but only take lasix as needed.
From:
http://www.mycustompak.com/healthNotes/Drug/ACE_Inhibitors.htm
>>>>
Potassium
An uncommon yet potentially serious side effect of taking ACE inhibitors is increased blood potassium levels.1 2 3 Taking potassium supplements,4 potassium-containing salt substitutes (No Salt®, Morton Salt Substitute®, and others),5 6 7 or large amounts of high-potassium foods at the same time as ACE inhibitors could cause life-threatening problems.8 Therefore, individuals should consult their healthcare practitioner before supplementing additional potassium and should have their blood levels of potassium checked periodically while taking ACE inhibitors.
>>>>>
H
Harpoon
Dunno... Didn't realize ACE inhibitors increased potassium levels....
I suspect though the lasix drains out more than the ACE inhibitor holds back and it might vary depending on what kind of ACE Inhibitor you're taking.
I'm on lisinopril (aka Zestril) and I occassionally get nasty cramps that I know are from low potassium, but it's not as often as it was before surgery, in fact it's pretty rare now.
Any "experts" listening??? =)
I suspect though the lasix drains out more than the ACE inhibitor holds back and it might vary depending on what kind of ACE Inhibitor you're taking.
I'm on lisinopril (aka Zestril) and I occassionally get nasty cramps that I know are from low potassium, but it's not as often as it was before surgery, in fact it's pretty rare now.
Any "experts" listening??? =)
Many people, maybe even most, who take Lasix take a prescription potassium supplement on a daily basis. Our bodies are pretty adept at eliminating extra potassium so unless there is something that really interfers (such as kidney problems) we rarely go dangeriously high.
On the reverse, low potassium levels are very very common with anyone on a diuretic and cause not only achiness, joint and muscle pain, constipation, and fatigue but also life threatening heart rhythms.
I'm on moduretic (a potassium sparing diuretic), lasix, and K-dur(a potassium supplement). I don't routinely have my potassium checked unless something else is being done.
Before I was on lasix I took K-dur three times a week otherwise my potassium would drop. When I had lasix added I had my potassium increased to daily. I am not on an ace inhibitor but it sounds like that could be a problem
On the reverse, low potassium levels are very very common with anyone on a diuretic and cause not only achiness, joint and muscle pain, constipation, and fatigue but also life threatening heart rhythms.
I'm on moduretic (a potassium sparing diuretic), lasix, and K-dur(a potassium supplement). I don't routinely have my potassium checked unless something else is being done.
Before I was on lasix I took K-dur three times a week otherwise my potassium would drop. When I had lasix added I had my potassium increased to daily. I am not on an ace inhibitor but it sounds like that could be a problem
H
Harpoon
<=== has never taken a potassium suppliment (at least not unless he got one in the hospital and didn't know it 'cause he was a little zonked out at the time....)
