diuretics

[iplaylead]

I recently finished all the tests for transplant it's been a year and one half now the other day my regular md called and told me to stop taking the spironlactone because my potassium was high it was 5.9 now what will happen if I can't take that diuretic (spironlactone) won't my foot start to swell again I also take lasex Iwas only taking 100 mg of spironlactone but my liver doctor uped the dosage to 150 mg because my foot started swelling again my meld is 17
and have cirrosis and hep c can you offer any answers for me
thanks

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

first you must make sure that you are not eating too much potassium rich food or taking salt substitute.  This may be more common in diabetics.  Sometimes you can only get away with a lower dose of aldactone, paired with the lasix with frequent monitoring of the electrolytes. try that first

[iplaylead]

Thank you doctor for answering my swellimg question however right now my liver doc.has me not taking any spironlactone he uped my dose of lasex  furosemide from 40 to 60 mg daily and told me to check my blood weekly if I don't swell I am still concerned as to what the doctors will do if I start to swell because I eat right and count everything I recently made an apointment with a dietician to help but I would still like to know what would happen if the swelling started again because I 'm not taking both dieuretics is there another one or another treatment thankyou please let me know
thankyou again

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

the doctor might recommend further increasing the lasix dose.  sometimes better dietary sodium restriction can go a very long way.