Does Potassium help?

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by enjoy, Nov 1, 2014.

  1. enjoy

    enjoy Member

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    Hi all,

    I heard many theories that one of the causes of MD is due to high sodium and your docs ENTs will recommend you to go on low sodium diet, or water pill diuretics.

    I am curious, is potassium a neutraliser of sodium? Can it be taken in high doses to replace the water pills?
     
  2. June-

    June- Well-Known Member

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    No. Be careful messing around with that. Too high a potassium level can be dangerous, even fatal.
     
  3. enjoy

    enjoy Member

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    Nov 1, 2014
    Hi June,

    my per pill is 600mg. I took for a few days X 3 times. Lucky you warned me. What is the max level per day?

     
  4. June-

    June- Well-Known Member

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    I have no idea. When people take drugs that effect their electrolytes they have them tested periodically. I dont know why you are doing this. It seems like a lot of risk for no gain.
     
  5. Cheryl

    Cheryl Active Member

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    You probably shouldn't be taking potassium supplements unless you are on a diuretic that is causing you to lose potassium. If that's the case, your doctor will monitor your potassium level and if it's too low, the doctor will decide how much extra potassium you should be taking. As June said, you really shouldn't be messing around with potassium supplements. According to my mom's nephrologist, it's almost impossible to get too much potassium IF you have normal kidney function. Having your potassium level out of whack, either too high or too low, is dangerous and can cause problems with your heart rhythm and lead to death.
     
  6. June-

    June- Well-Known Member

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    There was a member on this board whose potassium got too high and ended up in cardiac care for 3 days. Fortunately she pulled out of it. It can happen.
     
  7. enjoy

    enjoy Member

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    Thanks ladies for the warning, and for saving my life in future.

    I think reading the internet articles alone by myself is dangerous.

    Since the bottle is still there, perhaps, I will finish it off slowly taking one every few days, hope that is fine. LOL
     
  8. June-

    June- Well-Known Member

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    Why? Your body is not a garbage can.
     
  9. enjoy

    enjoy Member

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    Nov 1, 2014
    You are right .... :p

    By the way, are you still taking Valtrex?

     
  10. June-

    June- Well-Known Member

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    I never took valtrex. I took acyclovir at first and famvir later. I took them for a total of 5 or so months continuously. I take them occasionally for a month or so when i have a slight flareup now. It has been 6 + years.
     

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