Random call from my pharmacist

[StealthStilettos]

I just got a random call from my pharmacist asking if everything was going ok with the Spiro. Just thought this was a little odd considering I've never had a pharmacist call me and ask about any sort of medication I've gotten ever, or heard of anyone else receiving such a call for that matter. Has anyone else received such a call? Am I justvover thinking this or is something off here, kinda makes me wanna switch where I pick up my meds.

[Dena]

I never had it a call like that but on the other hand, I never took anything with as many side effects as Spiro. It's rare that you find a pharmacist that cares that much about a customer today so my opinion is you should stay with this one. Remember that you need to drink more water, eat more salt and watch the potassium. It's most likely these issues the pharmacist is watching out for.

[StealthStilettos]

Perhaps he had good intentions, still seems a bit invasive though. Had that been my doctor I wouldn't have had a second thought about it. And I've always been pretty good at staying hydrated, and trust me I get plenty of salt, probably too much salt, but I love it and put it on basically everything lol. I do need to start eating more bananas and potassium rich foods though.

[TonyaW]

Not something I ever did when I worked retail, but I've heard of it.  Especially if you were a new customer.  Some chains have required their pharmacy managers to make such follow up calls. 

Actually you need to avoid potassium while taking spironolactone.  Its classified as a potassium sparing diuretic, which to you means sodium gets depleted rather than potassium that other diuretics can deplete.


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[Northern Star Girl]

I just got a random call from my pharmacist asking if everything was going ok with the Spiro. Just thought this was a little odd considering I've never had a pharmacist call me and ask about any sort of medication I've gotten ever, or heard of anyone else receiving such a call for that matter. Has anyone else received such a call? Am I justvover thinking this or is something off here, kinda makes me wanna switch where I pick up my meds.

@StealthStilettos
Oh yeah, it does seem to be out of the ordinary for a pharmacist to make a call like that to you.

Usually when at the pharmacy counter and getting your meds and/or refills most pharmacies can sometimes have a "Consultation" requirement for drugs that are dispensed...   in that case, face to face, a question like that from the pharmacist is completely expected.
Hugs,
Danielle

[Devlyn]

Not something I ever did when I worked retail, but I've heard of it.  Especially if you were a new customer.  Some chains have required their pharmacy managers to make such follow up calls. 

Actually you need to avoid potassium while taking spironolactone.  Its classified as a potassium sparing diuretic, which to you means sodium gets depleted rather than potassium that other diuretics can deplete.

Please pay attention to that advice! Potassium is the last thing you want.

Hugs, Devlyn

[StealthStilettos]

Please pay attention to that advice! Potassium is the last thing you want.

Hugs, Devlyn

Oh good catch, yes I did misread that, more salt and less bananas, works for me lol. Info,remember my doctor saying that, just had a brain fart as a work overnights and my appointments are typically past my bed time lol.

[Courtney.lane408]

Please pay attention to that advice! Potassium is the last thing you want.

Hugs, Devlyn

Meh I'm not so sure. I've got tons of friends on sprio and no one actively avoids any and all potassium. As long as you don't eat a ton of high potassium foods you should be fine. Trying to avoid all foods with any potassium is totally unnecessary and that is coming from my endo. I'm not saying you shouldnt get your blood work done and keep and eye out for your potassium levels as Devlyn is correct it is a potassium sparing diuretic , but no need to go crazy trying to avoid all potassium. But do make sure you don't use a salt substitute with potassium in it


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[TonyaW]

Its extra potassium we were warning about as @StealthStillettos had it backwards in the OP. 

Most people don't need to avoid potassium when on spiro but you definitely do not want to get extra. The only thing I did was cut back on sports drinks.

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[Virginia]

My doctor explained Potassium injection is how they kill people who are sentenced to death. The heart simply stops without warning when the levels get too high.

In 9 years on estogen therapy, I have yet to have a doctor feel a need to check my hormone levels. But every one of them has watched my Potassium like a hawk.

[Stevie]

  Another hidden source of potassium is water softeners, some people use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride in their systems.  This is done usually because someone is on a low sodium diet.

[StacyRenee]

As others have said, natural foods with potassium are okay. Just don't eat a bunch of bananas every day. My physician told me just avoid anything with potassium added. I asked about sports drinks and she said they're fine as long as I'm active enough to need them. Don't just drink them all the time. The biggest no-no is salt substitute, like No-Salt or the like. No need for them as regular table salt is sodium and that gets flushed by the Spiro. My sodium levels are always low!

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[Virginia]

I just got a random call from my pharmacist asking if everything was going ok with the Spiro.

The potassium sparing effects of Spironolactone  ARE the reason it is clinically prescribed.  It is unreasonable and dangerous for ANYONE other than your doctor to advise what would be "OK" for you to eat in combination with taking the drug. A spike in a person's Potassium level WILL Cause Unexpected Sudden Death.

It is not clear from your profile how long you have been taking this medication. UNTIL you have blood work done to establish how you are responding to the medication FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S recommnedations.

[Harley Quinn]

Oh good catch, yes I did misread that, more salt and less bananas, works for me lol. Info,remember my doctor saying that, just had a brain fart as a work overnights and my appointments are typically past my bed time lol.

Oddly enough, Potatoes are worse than bannanas.   

[Dena]

Oddly enough, Potatoes are worse than bannanas.   

The big 3 in the western diet.

Potato white medium 503 mg
Potato white large  755 mg
Banana medium       451 mg
Orange juice 8oz    496 mg

[Donica]

Oddly enough, Potatoes are worse than bannanas.   

And Avocados are even higher than potato's.

[Dani]

While all these comments about potassium rich foods are true, we do not need to totally avoid any of these foods. Just eat your normal diet in moderation and let your doctor take regular blood samples and find out exactly how much potassium your have.

We need some potassium in our blood to live, just not too much.

[Michelle_P]

I just made some minor tweaks to diet to control potassium level while on spiro. 

Specifically, I reduced the consumption of a few root vegetables like potatoes a bit, and cut back on tomato concentrates - paste and sauces - by about half.  That brought the numbers right in line.

I had been on a very low sodium diet to control sodium-sensitive hypertension.  That became unnecessary with spiro.  Interesting that since GCS I stopped spiro but the hypertension hasn't really returned.

[Maid Marion]

GCS can lower your stress level, a well known contributor to hypertension.