Potassium Health Article

Symptoms of potassium overdose

Overdose symptoms of potassium include listlessness, mental confusion, tingling of limbs, weakness, pallid complexion, low blood pressure, and an irregular or fast heartbeat. These symptoms can progress to a drop in blood pressure, convulsion, coma, and eventually cardiac arrest, and can also be triggered by any kind of shock to the system. If any of the above symptoms occur, or in cases of bloody stool (may appear black and tarry), or difficulty in breathing or nausea, medical help should be sought immediately. High serum-potassium is the major problem with shock and is the major cause of death in cases of shock or injury. This is a life-threatening situation, and self treatment is not appropriate.

If such an emergency occurs and medical help is not available, a glass of water containing half a teaspoon of salt, a quarter of a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda and a little honey will help. Potassium supplements should be taken with extreme care in cases of dehydration, as this can be fatal. Adequate liquids, particularly juice, should always accompany the supplement.

Interactions

Care should be taken when taking potassium supplements in conjunction with diuretics. A practitioner should be consulted. A doctor should be informed when a patient is taking potassium supplements. In addition, the following are known to react with potassium:

• Amilorid: causes a dangerous rise in blood potassium.
• Atropine: increases the possibility of intestinal ulcers, which may be caused by potassium supplements.
• Belladonna: increases possibility of intestinal ulcers.
• Calcium: increases likelihood of heartbeat irregularities.
• Captopril: increases likelihood of potassium overdose.
• Digitalis preparations: may cause irregular heartbeat.
• Enalapril: increases chance of overdose.
• Laxatives: may decrease effectiveness of potassium (due to the fact that they leach potassium from the body).
• Spironolactone: increases blood potassium.
• Triamterene: increases blood potassium.
• Vitamin B₁₂: slow release supplements may decrease the absorption of vitamin B₁₂, increasing requirements.

BOOKS

Gerson, Max. A Cancer Therapy. California, Totality books: 1977.

OTHER

Weber, Charles. "Roles of Potassium in the Body." http://www.members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis4.html.

"Potassium." In Vitamins Plus.com. http://www.vitaminsplus.com/library/minerals/potassium.asp.

Patricia Skinner