I was wondering about how long it takes for potassium levels to rise. My doctor is putting me on a second blood pressure pill that can raise my potassium levels up. He wants to take me off the intial blood pressure pill in a month, so I am curious if things will be okay till then. The doctors office acts like it is no concern but the pharmacy says different.
2007-02-28 14:46:07 · 8 answers · asked by pinkhoney88 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
i'd go back and talk to your doctor.
K+ levels are nothing to fool around with. low levels can cause things like muscle spasms and even heart attacks.
2007-02-28 14:50:53 · answer #1 · answered by Carla S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
K+ (Potassium) intake should be monitored carefully. First make sure that the pharmacy knows all the medications that you are taking. It's always good to use the same pharmacy for consistency. Also at times a person can have many different doctors prescribing different medications. Having them all in one pharmacy can help raise warning flags or contraindications to medications. Next talk to the pharmacist, see what they say about the medications you are on and dosage. If he/she feels that there might be something wrong with the meds that you are on then you need to talk to your Dr. right away. Dr.'s do make mistakes. At least the Pharmacist has a PhD in Pharmacology. Always ask questions to the Dr. if you are unsure about anything. It is in your Patients Bill of Rights. High levels of K+ can be very harmful to your body even go as far as stopping your heart. It is important to be your own patient safety advocate. Good Luck!
2007-02-28 14:58:57 · answer #2 · answered by sams0nit3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok here's the jist on potassium. I don't know what kind of med you are on. It very well may be a diuretic that is potassium sparing. I don't know. Not enough info here to go on. But, anyway, if you have too little potassium it can cause a life threatening arrhythmia. If you have too much potassium it can also cause a life threatening arrhythmia. So, this is why potassium levels need to be monitored carefully. Too little and too much will hurt you. This would probably be why the pharmacist is concerned. You may be on another medication that contradicts the new med's use. This is something that you need to discuss with your doc and have him/her explain why they are doing this and how this new med will effect your over all health.
2007-03-01 03:31:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am currently taking a Human Anatomy and Phy. class and part of tonights discussion was on the affects of Potassium, Potassium is given to people in jail who are on death row waitng for lethal innjection, because it slows down the heart. I am not sure about your condition in depth, but maybe you should get a second opionion, it can be a dangerous thing.
2007-02-28 14:54:51 · answer #4 · answered by Thandie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hre's a good web site.
WWW.NIH.GOV
it's a monster of a site, but it provides a wealth of informnation from genuine experts.
\(NIH is National Institute of Health.)
I had this problem once, showed up on a routine blood test. Took a couple pills that would choke a horse, but that was the end of it.
2007-02-28 14:52:27 · answer #5 · answered by Barry auh2o 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I were you I would go see another DR!! To much potassium can be dangerous. The Pharmacist is right!
2007-02-28 14:52:03 · answer #6 · answered by Kristi C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask for the doctors opinion on what the pharmacist said.
2007-02-28 14:52:18 · answer #7 · answered by Wrath Warbone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what drugs....what are your current potassium levels.....?
I can't help you with incomplete info.
2007-03-04 11:50:47 · answer #8 · answered by jloertscher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋