Comments on: How to Understand the Effects of Low Potassium on the Body

on 8/1/2008 I take diuretics and have always accompanied it with prescription potassium. However, we just found out that my potassium is very low. I am suppose to have an outpatient procedure on Monday so they had me double up on the potassium and checked it again today (Friday). It was 2.6. Now they want to admit me in the hospital on Sunday and give me potassium for 24 hours via IV's. If they can't get it up then my procedure will be postponed.

I noticed that my mouth gets really dry a lot and I have some muscle cramps at night but didn't think anything about it being the potassium since I was taking it. I am sure they will increase my dosage after this weekend.

on 2/3/2008 My doctor prescribed spironolactone for my low potassium is this drug safe to take?

on 9/24/2006 Little did I know that licorice root found in true licorice candy (love the English brands) can deplete your body of potassium. Eating licorice followed in a few days by the flu with vomiting and diarrhea caused me to be rushed to the hospital as I was having trouble breathing. My potassium level was 2.9--the doctor said I was one beat away from cardiac arrest!

on 12/27/2007 I know potassium is of great importance. I had two surgeries, and the thing my caregivers were the most worried about was my potassium bottoming out. If you get way too much, it can cause a heart attack. If you don't get enough, it can cause you to slip into a coma, or worse.

I am now taking 80mg a day total now. Hopefully, it will even out. I have blood work every three weeks now that I'm home. In the hospital I had IVs of it.

on 6/30/2006 I have anorexia and bulimia, and was unaware of my super-low potassium. However, I noticed once my lungs stopped working correctly and I couldn't breathe properly. I kept gulping air, and I could never get enough.
Plenty of orange-juice, bananas, and supplements. That's the way to go.

on 11/22/2005 I have been experiencing muscle cramps in my calf muscles on arising.
My doctor mentioned that my potassium level was borderline low on my last blood work and suggested that I eat more bananas and drink more orange juice. I bought potassium supplements 50 mg and the morning cramps disappeared after one night of dosage. I have been experiencing periodic back pain and sciatica. The supplements seem to have relieved much of this problem as well.

on 11/22/2005 Most grocery stores sell "no salt." This is potassium. It's very cheap compared to RX and it's the same thing. I have been using it for years.

on 11/22/2005 I play basketball, and with all that running and weight lifting, it can really put the 'p' in pain. Here is a really quick tip, to take away the 'p' in pain - Bananas. Eat a serving of fresh bananas each day. They make a good morning start to a better day, and contain plenty of potassium. Eating bananas will help your breathing also, and take away some of that pain.