Potassium Levels Forums (Page 3)

I HAD TO SEE MY DOC FOR A PRE-OP . AFTER THE EXAM, HE SAID MY PRESSURE WAS TOO HIGH (160/80). I FEEL GREAT AND ALL ELSE WAS WONDERFUL. TO ENSURE THAT THE UPCOMING PROCEDURE IS NOT DENIED, HE GAVE ME PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HYDROCHLOROT AND KLOR-CON. WHEN ASKED WHY, HE SAID TO LOWER THE BP. I DO NOT LIKE TAKING ANY? THING EXCEPT VITAMINS AND FEEL GREAT. WHY THE 2 MEDICATIONS AND WHY GIVE THEM PRIOR TO THE PROCEDURE. ## Hello, Lucee! How are you? As your doctor said, they may refuse to do the procedure, if your blood pressure is too high and they feel you may not be stable. Thus, it is best to take the medications, as prescribed. They Hydochlorothiazide is a diuretic that removes excess fluid from the body to help lower blood pressure and the Klor-Con is a potassium supplement that is often giv...

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I'm having my cervix removed on Friday and I've been directed to take this med 3 times/day for two days prior. Why? I'd already been taking potassium supplements every day to stop restless legs. ## Hello, Linda! How are you? Your potassium might have still been a little low, so you should follow the instructions that you've been provided. It can be very harsh on the stomach, so the FDA warns that it should be taken with food and not on an empty stomach. Is there anything else I can help with?

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My doctor prescribes potassium cl tb 20meq sr mc. The doctor suggests that because of a problem in my esopog. I should use liquid. If I buy from a health food store what is the equivalent? ## Hello, Darr! How are you? There is no over the counter equivalent for the prescription dosages. However, your doctor can prescribe it for you, it is available via prescription and most pharmacies should have it in stock, or be able to order it for you. The FDA warns that oral potassium can be very harsh on the stomach, so it should be taken with food. Is there anything else I can help with?

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My Doctor has changed me from potassium chloride 20MEQ SR MC to 2 potassium chloride ER 10MEQ ## Hello, Pamela! How are you? They are both the same, a potassium supplement in a time released formulation. The FDA warns that it can be very harsh on the stomach, so it should be taken with food. Did your doctor give any reason for the change? ## Yes my blood test showed my eGFR was 46 and 39 and my Creatinine is 1.39. I am going in for a kidney Renal with bladder test. Also Basic Metabolic Panel. Thank you for answering. Pamela

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Hi I have been on 20 meq 3 times a day for a week. My potassium levels were at 2.2 at the time the doctor prescribed them for me. I am on 20 mg of lasix a day for kidney issues. I am going back to doc next week for more blood work. Do you think my levels will be increased greatly? ## They should improve over the week, but there's no way to say how much. I've generally found them to work very fast, though. The FDA warns that they can be very hard on the stomach, so they should be taken with food. As to the low potassium levels, Lasix has been known to cause that, so you might want to ask your doctor about switching to a potassium sparing diuretic. Is there anything else I can help with?

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How soon after starting Klor-con m20 3 times daily will my level increase for a blood test? I am to have surgery in 5 days and right now it is low. ## Hello, Carol! How are you? I hope your surgery goes well. It usually starts to raise within a few days. I've had to take it, before, because for some reason my body doesn't store potassium and they were able to see a difference after just a few days, when I was in the hospital and checked frequently. The FDA does warn that it can be very harsh on the stomach, so it should be taken with food. Is there anything else I can help with?

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the price of my Pot Chlor (20meq) tabs doubled since April! Does anyone know why? Should I contact the State Att Gen? ## Hello, Wilby! How are you? Unfortunately, there is nothing your attorney general can do, they have no control over prescription prices. Like any other business, it is a matter of supply and demand, so prices may change, at any time. The FDA has tried creating more market competition by allowing generics to be created by multiple companies to try to help keep prices as low as possible, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes, if there's a shortage of the raw ingredients needed to make a certain medication, or some other issue affecting the supply, the prices jump. Is there anything else I can help with?

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I have been on the BLUE capsule potassium cl xr 10 MEQ CER Watson for years...My trusted pharmacist INSISTS that the yellow oblong tablet he has filled in it's place is the same product...I am having problems breathing, wheezing, etc...and am concerned that this pill is NOT the same and I am in no position whatsoever to argue with him....I even had an asthma attack and that is highly unusual....I would so appreciate your advice....thank you... ## HI, Trisha! Sorry about the problems that you're having. Is it the yellow tablet with the K-Tab marking on it? It is the same dosage, but of course, when you switch from a capsule to a tablet, the inactive ingredients are different and you could be reacting to one of them. While the active ingredient level has to stay within a certain l...

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Can you die if your in good health and take 15 klor con meq 20 tablets? ## Hello, Matt! How are you? It is possible to overdose on virtually any medication and, when it comes to Potassium, too much can be just as dangerous as not having enough. However, immediate death would most likely not occur, but a person could damage their heart, blood vessels and liver, which could turn into fatal conditions, as reported by the NIH. Is there anything else I can help with?

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I have a box of recently expired K-Lyte effervescent tablets individually wrapped. 25mEq elemental Potassium (975mg) as potassium citrate. Expired Nov 2015. Would they be safe to use since they are individually sealed and only 4 months past expiry? ## Hello, Lynda! How are you? They don't become dangerous, once expired, but they can lose some efficacy and may not work as well as they did, when new, to raise potassium levels. Unless your doctor approves of your still using them, it would be best to dispose of them and obtain a new supply. The U.S. FDA lists their typical side effect as being nausea. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Thank you for the reply. I appreciate the information.

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I ran out of my klor- con 10 prescription and don't have my doctors appointment where I can get a refill until May 4th. Will my potassium level become dangerously low. What can happen if I don't have it? I do believe that my doctor prescribes it because I'm on Warfarin, but I am also on many other medications. ## Hello, Jessie! How are you? Many medications can cause low potassium, but for the most part it occurs with diuretics used to treat edema, congestive heart failure and high blood pressure, as reported by the NIH. You could try to keep it up by eating potassium rich foods, such as bananas and oranges. Or you could call your doctor, they may phone in a few days of it for you, to get you through, until your appointment. Does anyone else have any ideas?

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It is now $400.00 a month. She has to take it twice a day. We can not afford this med. Is there any help or alternative? She has medicare. She stopped taking it because of the cost and did not tell me. She became very sick and was put in the ICU to get her potassium up. ## Hello, TJ! How is your mom doing? The manufacturer does have an assistance program for Klor-Con, you can call them for qualification and application details at 866-699-8239. The FDA lists this medication as being very harsh on the stomach, so it should be taken with food. Is there anything else I can help with? ## TJ, you can also look at the link below and see if she might qualify for help with her medications and other Medicare costs. Save on drug costs (Extra Help)- medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/help-paying-cost...

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Hello, I am on 20mg of Potassium CL my last blood draw was 4.6 or higher? I am a bit worried about taking 20mg. I know, the level should not exceed 5. If, you do take too much, does your body rid itself of what it does not need. Any help would be appreciated, my doctor of out of town. Thank you. btw when I started taking the prescription my level was 3.1. ## Hello, Debra! How are you? No, your body does not. It tends to build up and both levels too high or too low can be dangerous and could cause heart problems and elevated blood pressure, as explained by the NIH. However, 4.6 puts you right in the safe range, so you should follow your doctor's instructions and make sure they are monitoring you regularly. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Hello, Thank you so much, for respo...

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Klor -con20 is killing me. My stomach hurts and I do take with food. Any other suggestions? ## I'm very sorry about the problem that you're having. If your doctor approves, you may be able to take it with an additional antacid, that could help protect your stomach more. Are you taking it just before a meal, while eating or after a meal? That can also make a difference, since the latter two can help prevent the stomach irritation, which the FDA lists as its most common side effect.

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can the potassium work the same one or the other can they be change one for the other ## Hello, Linda! How are you? You should take the one prescribed by your doctor. The over the counter potassium gluconate actually only contains a fraction of elemental potassium, so they are not potent enough to alleviate a deficiency as fast as may need to be done. The FDA lists the typical side effect of Potassium as usually being stomach upset and pain, so it is best taken with food. Is there anything else I can help with?

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I noticed on my husbands list of pills that one of them are Potassium Chloride he says he can sub the Salt Pills for the Potassium Chloride is this true ? Thank you for answering all of the questions that you do ## Hello, Cookie! How are you? No, they are not the same and one cannot sub for the other. If he's been instructed to take both, he should do so. These are both supplements used to correct deficiencies. The FDA lists the most common side effect as being nausea. Is there anything else I can help with?

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any alternative medicine? we are having lack of supply for kalium durule in our place. please advise. ## I just want to share. I was able to find the alternative medicine already. It is SPAN-K very much the same as kallium durule ..they are both composed of potassium chloride.. so I am okay now..Thank you anyway.. MOre blessings to all! ## hi.found an alternative medicine already..Span K or K-lite will do.. Thanks! ## we will try this. our patient lives in mandaue cebu but unfortunately all drugstores are out of stock for kalium durule..also here in dumaguete. thank you for the info. ## Where is this Span-k or K lyte available? Thanks. ## k lite i have haypokalemia toomi found out that k lite is alternative og kalium ..its potassium cholride

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i have an ileostomy , it has been blocked or stopped up a few times before requiring hosp . stay, should i take klor-con m20 ? will it plug up my stoma ? ## My husband has one of those. It's actually a BCIR Barnett continent internal reservoir. He uses a catheter to empty his internal pouch. He had a traditional colostomy for 20 years until he had this surgery in St. Louis. Now it's only done in Cali and Florida. He also has Crohns and takes Klor kon 40 mg 1x a day. We want to switch to OTC because we recently r having insurance problems.

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The generic Klor-Con is not in a powder. Now my grandmother has these pills that she cannot take b/c there is now a generic and she is on Medicare. She cannot crush them b/c she is 97. Medicare wants $1200 to get the regular powder version. This is BS. ## Hello, JJ! How is your grandmother? I'm very sorry about the problem that you've run into. Yes, it is very expensive, even for the generic, to be honest. Have you spoken to her doctor? They may be able to advise you of an alternative, such as taking several of the over the counter potassium supplements that are available, or a special diet to raise her potassium. The FDA classifies this medication as a supplement and it is known to be very harsh on the stomach, so it should be taken with food. Alternatively, some blood pressure...

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My 1 year old son got ahold of my mother-in-law's potassium CL 20meq er tablets that expired 8/31/2013. I think he only took one. Should I take him to a doctor? ## How is he doing? Did he suffer any adverse effects? There is no danger from them being expired, however, there can be problems if he gets too much potassium, it can cause heart and blood pressure issues. The only other typical side effect, as listed by the FDA, may include nausea due to the potency. Any time you are worried that someone may be in danger, especially a child, you should contact poison control or your nearest emergency services.

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