Potassium

Are there any interactions with medications?

---

Medications for high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Some medications for high blood pressure can increase potassium levels in the blood. Taking potassium along with some medications for high blood pressure might cause too much potassium in the blood.

Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others.

---

Medications for high blood pressure (Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs))
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Some medications for high blood pressure can increase potassium levels in the blood. Taking potassium along with some medications for high blood pressure might cause too much potassium to be in the blood.

Some medications for high blood pressure include losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), irbesartan (Avapro), candesartan (Atacand), telmisartan (Micardis), eprosartan (Teveten), and others.

---

Water pills (Potassium-sparing diuretics)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.

Some "water pills" can increase potassium levels in the body. Taking some "water pills" along with potassium might cause too much potassium to be in the body.

Some "water pills" that increase potassium in the body include amiloride (Midamor), spironolactone (Aldactone), and triamterene (Dyrenium).

Dosing considerations for Potassium.

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

Potassium supplementation must be tailored for each person and based on the person's serum potassium level, which should be maintained between 3.5-5 mEq/L.

The normal adult daily requirement and usual dietary intake is 40-80 mEq daily.

• For preventing low levels of potassium: 20 mEq is typically taken daily.
• For treating low levels of potassium: the common dose of potassium is 40-100 mEq or more daily, in two to four divided amounts.
• For treating high levels of calcium: 1 mEq/kg is taken daily or four tablets of Urophos-K are taken twice a day.
• For high blood pressure: the typical dose is 48-90 mEq daily.
• For preventing stroke: dietary intake of approximately 75 mEq (about 3.5 grams of elemental potassium) daily may reduce risk.

Foods that contain at least 350 mg potassium can be labeled "Diets containing foods that are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke."