Potassium Supplements : Before Using

Potassium Supplements - Systemic

Potassium Supplements *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For potassium supplements, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to potassium preparations. Also tell your family doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Potassium supplements have not been shown to cause problems.

Breast-feeding problem

Potassium supplements pass into breast milk. However, this drug has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of potassium supplements in child with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than they do in adults.

Elderly care

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

Older adults may be at a greater risk of developing high blood levels of potassium - hyperkalemia.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking potassium supplements, it is especially important that your family doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

Amantadine - Symmetrel
Anticholinergics - drug for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps
Antidepressants - drug for depression
Antidyskinetics - drug for Parkinson's disease or other conditions effecting control of muscles
Antihistamines
Antipsychotic drug - drug for mental illness
Buclizine - Bucladin
Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Cyclizine - Marezine
Cyclobenzaprine - Flexeril
Disopyramide - Norpace
Flavoxate - Urispas
Ipratropium - Atrovent
Meclizine - Antivert
Methylphenidate - Ritalin
Orphenadrine - Norflex
Oxybutynin - Ditropan
Procainamide - Pronestyl
Promethazine - Phenergan
Quinidine - Quinidex
Trimeprazine - Temaril Use with potassium supplements may cause or worsen certain stomach or intestine problems

Angiotensin-converting enzyme - ACE inhibitors - benazepril " Lotensin ", captopril " Capoten ", enalapril " Vasotec ", fosinopril " Monotril ", lisinopril " Prinivil, Zestril ", quinapril " Accupril ", ramipril " Altace "
Amiloride - Midamor
Beta-adrenergic blocking agents - acebutolol " Sectral ", atenolol " Tenormin ", betaxolol " Kerlone ", carteolol " Cartrol ", labetalol " Normodyne ", metoprolol " Lopressor ", nadolol " Corgard ", oxprenolol " Trasicor ", penbutolol " Levatol ", pindolol " Visken ", propranolol " Inderal ", sotalol " Sotacor ", timolol " Blocadren "
Heparin - Panheprin
Inflammation or pain drug - except narcotics
Potassium-containing medication - other
Salt substitutes, low-salt foods, or milk
Spironolactone - Aldactone
Triamterene - Dyrenium Use with potassium supplements may further increase potassium blood levels, which may cause or worsen heart problems

Digitalis glycosides - heart drug Use with potassium supplements may make heart problems worse

Thiazide diuretics - water pills If you have been taking a potassium supplement and a thiazide diuretic together, stopping the thiazide diuretic may cause hyperkalemia - high blood levels of potassium

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of potassium supplements. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Addison's disease - underactive adrenal glands
Dehydration - excessive loss of body water, continuing or severe

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes
Kidney disease Potassium supplements may increase the risk of hyperkalemia - high blood levels of potassium, which may worsen or cause heart problems in diseaseds with these conditions

Diarrhea - continuing or severe The loss of fluid in combination with potassium supplements may cause kidney problems, which may increase the risk of hyperkalemia - high blood levels of potassium

Heart disease Potassium supplements may make this condition worse

Intestinal or esophageal blockage Potassium supplements may damage the intestines

Stomach ulcer Potassium supplements may make this condition worse