The operation of the heart, kidneys, muscles, neurons, and digestive system depends on potassium. Most of the potassium you require is often provided by the food you eat. However, some conditions (such as kidney illness and gastrointestinal conditions that cause vomiting and diarrhea) and medications, particularly diuretics (‘water pills,’) deplete the body of potassium. To replace potassium lost through sweat and prevent deficiency, people take potassium supplements.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you’re interested in using this drug for any other conditions.

Oral liquid, powder, granules, effervescent, normal, extended-release (long-acting), and extended-release capsule forms are all available for potassium. It is typically taken with or right after meals, two to four times a day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Consume potassium as advised. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

All potassium supplements should be taken with a full glass of water or fruit juice.

To the water, add the liquid. According to the manufacturer’s instructions or the instructions on your prescription label, dissolve the powder, granules, or effervescent tablets in cold water or fruit juice. Mix the medication thoroughly just before taking it. Cold drinks might help cover up an unpleasant flavor.

Extended-release pills and tablets should be taken whole. Do not dissolve them in your mouth or chew them.

Before taking potassium,

• If you have an allergy to potassium or any other medications, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away.
• As angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), as well as diuretics (often known as “water pills”), and vitamins, be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know about all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications. You shouldn’t take potassium if you’re also taking triamterene (Dyrenium), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor).
• Inform your doctor if you currently have, or have ever had, Addison’s disease (adrenal gland illness).
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are already nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while taking potassium.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking potassium if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.

Inform your physician if you use a salt alternative. Numerous salt replacements include potassium. This source will be taken into account by your doctor when calculating your potassium supplement dose. Your doctor could suggest using a potassium-containing salt alternative and consuming foods high in potassium, such as bananas, prunes, raisins, and milk.

Take the missing dose as soon as you remember it and space out the remaining doses for the day. Never take two doses at once to make up for missing ones.

Potassium could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Uneasy stomach
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Mental disarray
• Listlessness
• Arm, hand, leg, or foot tingling, prickling, scorching, constricting, or pulling feeling
• Legs that are heavy or feeble
• Gray, pale, and chilly skin
• Abdominal pain
• Odd belly bulge
• Stools in black

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the bathroom and other places with excessive heat and moisture.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To determine how you react to potassium, your doctor will perform a few lab tests. Blood tests and electrocardiograms (EKGs) may be performed on you to determine whether your dose needs to be adjusted.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.