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hypokalemia
My potassium levels keep fluctuating...they are now 3.3......I am hypokalemic and I am on Diovan, and potassium supplents......The doctor mentioned Liddles syndrome........Does anyone know anything about this?.....I also have mild MVP....and PVCs'......I'm 51 and going through menopause.....I've also just been diagnosed with osteoporosis........I'm not even postmenopausal, yet.....Does anyone have the low potassium, high blood pressure problem?.......Thank you!
Well thanks so much Hon :) I am not wise, I just read a lot, lol.
Best of health to you,
Jack
Best of health to you,
Jack
Jack,
Thank you so much for all your information......I am beginning a new blood pressure pill today......I also drink a tea daily, for 10 years now that contains licorice root......Because of your answer I mentioned that to the doctor...........He doesn't consider it a factor yet, because I drink it only once daily.......But, you helped me a lot.........I will contine to look for your wisdom.....If I can help you in any way, please let me know........
Linda
Diovan increases potassium, so this is really confusing, unless you take another medicine such as Lasix or another diuretic, or you have the syndrome mentioned above. Below are some more causes of hypokalemia.
Your PVCs are probably due to hypokalemia. Potassium or "K" is very important for the heart's electrical activity which develop a heart beat.
Are you taking prescription supplements in units of MEQ? Maybe we can help you figure this out. First you must realize that you have intracellular K, or K within your cells that are hard to measure, and usually are not, and circulating K in your blood stream, which is what is measured. K is one of the most important blood electrolytes. They conduct electricity among many other things, I think :)
Sorry to have missed your post. There are just so many here. Hypokalemia can be lethal as I am sure that you know.
Make sure you go through the list of possible causes such as low magnesium, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
=======================================
Diovan (angiotensin II receptor blockers)
Serum Potassium: In hypertensive patients, greater than 20% increases n serum potassium were observed in 4.4% of Diovan-treated patients compared to 2.9% of placebo-treated patients. In heart failure patients, greater than 20% increases in serum potassium were observed in 10.0% of Diovan-treated patients compared to 5.1% of placebo-treated patients.
========================================
Hypokalemia (abnormally low potassium)
There may be no symptoms at all, but severe hypokalemia may cause:
Muscle weakness and myalgia
Increased risk of hyponatremia with resultant confusion and seizures
Disturbed heart rhythm (ranging from ectopy to arrhythmias)
Serious arrhythmias
EKG changes associated with hypokalemia:
Flattened (notched) T waves
U waves
ST depression
Prolonged QT interval
Causes
Hypokalemia can result from one or more of the following medical conditions:
Perhaps the most obvious cause is insufficient consumption of potassium (that is, a low-potassium diet). However, without excessive potassium loss from the body, this is a rare cause of hypokalemia.
A more common cause is excessive loss of potassium, often associated with excess water loss, which "flushes" potassium out of the body. Typically, this is a consequence of vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive perspiration, although heavy drinking can also cause it.
Certain medications can accelerate the removal of potassium from the body; including thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide; loop diuretics, such as furosemide; as well as various laxatives. The antifungal amphotericin B has also been associated with hypokalemia.
A special case of potassium loss occurs with diabetic ketoacidosis. In addition to urinary losses from polyuria and volume contraction, there is also obligate loss of potassium from kidney tubules as a cationic partner to the negatively charged ketone, β-hydroxybutyrate.
Hypomagnesemia can cause hypokalemia. Magnesium is required for adequate processing of potassium. This may become evident when hypokalemia persists despite potassium supplementation. Other electrolyte abnormalities may also be present.
Disease states that lead to abnormally high aldosterone levels can cause hypertension and excessive urinary losses of potassium. These include renal artery stenosis and tumors (generally non-malignant) of the adrenal glands. Hypertension and hypokalemia can also be seen with a deficiency of the 11β-hydroxylase enzyme which allows cortisols to stimulate aldosterone receptors. This deficiency can either be congenital or caused by consumption of glycyrrhizin, which is contained in extract of licorice, sometimes found in Herbal supplements, candies and chewing tobacco.
Rare hereditary defects of renal salt transporters, such as Bartter syndrome or Gitelman syndrome can cause hypokalemia, in a manner similar to that of diuretics.
Rare hereditary defects of muscular ion channels and transporters that cause hypokalemic periodic paralysis can precipitate occasional attacks of severe hypokalemia and muscle weakness. These defects cause a heightened sensitivity to catechols and/or insulin and/or thyroid hormone that lead to sudden influx of potassium from the extracellular fluid into the muscle cells.
Your PVCs are probably due to hypokalemia. Potassium or "K" is very important for the heart's electrical activity which develop a heart beat.
Are you taking prescription supplements in units of MEQ? Maybe we can help you figure this out. First you must realize that you have intracellular K, or K within your cells that are hard to measure, and usually are not, and circulating K in your blood stream, which is what is measured. K is one of the most important blood electrolytes. They conduct electricity among many other things, I think :)
Sorry to have missed your post. There are just so many here. Hypokalemia can be lethal as I am sure that you know.
Make sure you go through the list of possible causes such as low magnesium, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
=======================================
Diovan (angiotensin II receptor blockers)
Serum Potassium: In hypertensive patients, greater than 20% increases n serum potassium were observed in 4.4% of Diovan-treated patients compared to 2.9% of placebo-treated patients. In heart failure patients, greater than 20% increases in serum potassium were observed in 10.0% of Diovan-treated patients compared to 5.1% of placebo-treated patients.
========================================
Hypokalemia (abnormally low potassium)
There may be no symptoms at all, but severe hypokalemia may cause:
Muscle weakness and myalgia
Increased risk of hyponatremia with resultant confusion and seizures
Disturbed heart rhythm (ranging from ectopy to arrhythmias)
Serious arrhythmias
EKG changes associated with hypokalemia:
Flattened (notched) T waves
U waves
ST depression
Prolonged QT interval
Causes
Hypokalemia can result from one or more of the following medical conditions:
Perhaps the most obvious cause is insufficient consumption of potassium (that is, a low-potassium diet). However, without excessive potassium loss from the body, this is a rare cause of hypokalemia.
A more common cause is excessive loss of potassium, often associated with excess water loss, which "flushes" potassium out of the body. Typically, this is a consequence of vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive perspiration, although heavy drinking can also cause it.
Certain medications can accelerate the removal of potassium from the body; including thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide; loop diuretics, such as furosemide; as well as various laxatives. The antifungal amphotericin B has also been associated with hypokalemia.
A special case of potassium loss occurs with diabetic ketoacidosis. In addition to urinary losses from polyuria and volume contraction, there is also obligate loss of potassium from kidney tubules as a cationic partner to the negatively charged ketone, β-hydroxybutyrate.
Hypomagnesemia can cause hypokalemia. Magnesium is required for adequate processing of potassium. This may become evident when hypokalemia persists despite potassium supplementation. Other electrolyte abnormalities may also be present.
Disease states that lead to abnormally high aldosterone levels can cause hypertension and excessive urinary losses of potassium. These include renal artery stenosis and tumors (generally non-malignant) of the adrenal glands. Hypertension and hypokalemia can also be seen with a deficiency of the 11β-hydroxylase enzyme which allows cortisols to stimulate aldosterone receptors. This deficiency can either be congenital or caused by consumption of glycyrrhizin, which is contained in extract of licorice, sometimes found in Herbal supplements, candies and chewing tobacco.
Rare hereditary defects of renal salt transporters, such as Bartter syndrome or Gitelman syndrome can cause hypokalemia, in a manner similar to that of diuretics.
Rare hereditary defects of muscular ion channels and transporters that cause hypokalemic periodic paralysis can precipitate occasional attacks of severe hypokalemia and muscle weakness. These defects cause a heightened sensitivity to catechols and/or insulin and/or thyroid hormone that lead to sudden influx of potassium from the extracellular fluid into the muscle cells.
I'm not familiar with hypokalemia or Liddles Syndrome, but I do know that maintaining the proper potassium is important for heart health.
I found some information on Widipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liddle's_Syndrome. Maybe it will help. Are you taking medication for BP control? Are you on a low salt diet, or does it depend on your potassium at a given time?
This will bump your question back to the top. Hopefully other posters can offer some advice, suggestions, help.
I found some information on Widipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liddle's_Syndrome. Maybe it will help. Are you taking medication for BP control? Are you on a low salt diet, or does it depend on your potassium at a given time?
This will bump your question back to the top. Hopefully other posters can offer some advice, suggestions, help.
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