Low Potassium Options

[Suzy]

So, as discussed in other topics,  Spiro is a Potassium sparing drug.  I have been told that it is important not to partake of too much potassium while on it.  Has anyone found good solutions to this?  In particular, any multivitamins you like to take that would fall into this range?  What foods and drinks are best left out of your diet?

Kristi

[Sandy]

So, as discussed in other topics,  Spiro is a Potassium sparing drug.  I have been told that it is important not to partake of too much potassium while on it.  Has anyone found good solutions to this?  In particular, any multivitamins you like to take that would fall into this range?  What foods and drinks are best left out of your diet?

Kristi

When I started taking spiro, about the only thing my doctor said half jokingly was to go easy on the bananas.

Other than that, he really didn't have too much to say except to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise.  But what doctor doesn't say that?

-Sandy

[finewine]

Potassium is very widely found in a number of foods, which makes reducing your intake require some careful selection.  Many online lists of K containing foods but, of course, the veracity of these is subject to scrutiny (just 'coz it's written down doesn't make it true)

For example:
http://www.drugs.com/cg/potassium-content-of-foods-list.html

And this PDF document at least seems to come from a verifiable source:
http://www.pamf.org/patients/pdf/potassium_count.pdf

[Lisbeth]

Look for a site that lists what to eat if you need potassium, and X them off your list.

[ArleneTgirl]

I've also heard this, but my Doctor also says, just eat healthy.  He monitors my blood every 3 months, and, so far, everything is good.  I eat banana's, potato's (high in pottasium), and broccoli.  I don't think it's a good idea to eliminate these foods, especially green leafy vegetables (which are all high in potassium) unless your doctor specifically tells you to.

[Syne]

I was on a good sized dosage and while I  avoided bananas (because I dislike them) I took a multi vitamin every day and ate Special K on many mornings. I never had any bloodwork come back reflecting too high on the count but did have symptoms a couple of times. Drank more water, watched what I was taking in for a couple of days and it cleared up.

YMMV of course.

[Janet_Girl]

I eat what I like.  And my potassium levels have remained the same for the last year.  I eat healthy  and avoid certain food that my Father had to, because he was being treated for high potassium and high blood pressure.

Janet

[Michelle.]

Potassium is very widely found in a number of foods, which makes reducing your intake require some careful selection.  Many online lists of K containing foods but, of course, the veracity of these is subject to scrutiny (just 'coz it's written down doesn't make it true)

For example:
http://www.drugs.com/cg/potassium-content-of-foods-list.html

And this PDF document at least seems to come from a verifiable source:
http://www.pamf.org/patients/pdf/potassium_count.pdf

Bloody Hell, most of my favorite drinks/food are on that list. Coffee, milk, cantaloupe. OJ, tomato juice etc etc...

Post Merge: May 29, 2009, 09:44:35 PM
Update. I couldn't find the link if my life depended on it, but a member here posted along this line prior.

"You know your potassium level is too high when you get light headed."

The above would be a sign that ones blood pressure is dropping.

Also Walgreens and CVS type stores sell home BP monitering machines for well under $100 these days. At the very least its probably a good idea to establish ones baseline BP and than check it every few weeks at the grocery store or drug stores free BP machine.

[Ms.Behavin]

It's more to just avoid excess potassium.  So no eating a bunch of banana's a day.  But just eat sensibly.  I never had a problem with it either and test results were normal.

Beni