Potassium Chloride

Hmm, I find myself wondering about the actual metabolic pathway of potassium once it's ingested—where does it actually go? And more importantly, at what point does it become excessive?

For quite some time now, I’ve been dealing with this strange "depletion" of potassium—which, I suppose, is somewhat justified given my use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, not to mention my underlying health issues...

Since the beginning, I've been trying to replenish it artificially...

It started with those small effervescent tablets you dissolve in a glass of water, but one box disappears far too quickly, so I switched over to Kalinor, which was supposed to stabilize things—assuming there's about 2g of potassium in each tablet...

If my memory serves me correctly, the progression went like this:
2x1, then later
3x1, followed by
2x2, until finally being put on 100mg of Aldactone daily. But since my levels were still hovering right at the bottom limit, the Kalinor dosage climbed to 2x2 plus an extra 1x1...
....then eventually up to 3x2 (alongside the Aldactone)
and most recently, I've been at 3x3, which frankly makes no sense to me...

That would be 18g of potassium per day 😕 ????

Yet, looking at the insert for Kalinor, it suggests a normal dose is 1-2 tablets a day and warns against taking more than one at a single time...

So, I suppose I just need someone to tell me: "Don't worry, just keep going, because you can never have too much potassium," right?

Potassium is something you get naturally from your diet, and honestly, it’s absolutely vital for how your body works. It plays a huge role in your nervous system because it teams up with sodium to create what’s known as the "K-Na pump," which is basically the foundation for sending nerve impulses throughout your entire body. Messing with those levels—whether you're running too low or have way too much—is a serious situation that can lead to some scary stuff like muscle spasms, heart rhythm issues, or even cardiac arrest.

Your kidneys play a massive part in managing how potassium moves through your system.
I noticed you mentioned taking Aldactone, which is a diuretic used to flush more fluid out through urine, so I'm guessing your kidney function might be a bit wonky right now. Usually, things like diabetes and high blood pressure start swirling around kidney issues, and since you also brought up corticosteroids and systemic diseases, there could be a whole cocktail of causes behind what you're dealing with.
Because of all that, it’s really tough to give any real advice based on just a few scattered details, especially when we're talking about a health issue that sounds pretty complex.

At the end of the day, I think the most important thing is deciding who you actually listen to when it comes to treatment. Are you going to follow a general practitioner, or should you be looking for a specialist—and if so, which kind?
Personally, I’d suggest bypassing the GP for this. Not because I’m being dismissive, but simply because they often aren't equipped to handle these specific kinds of situations without getting a specialist's opinion involved.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't hesitate to go see a nephrologist, specifically one who works in hemodialysis units. Those folks really have a lot of power in their hands, so to speak; they deal with more invasive medicine and they truly master those metabolic imbalances, especially everything involving kidney function and the balance of potassium and sodium.
Maybe do a little digging in the hospital breakrooms or ask around to see which smart internist or nephrologist—someone who specializes in dialysis—is highly regarded... I'm pretty sure you won't go wrong with that approach.

Regarding that potassium discussion from yesterday—I just got my lab results back, and they show a level of 3.9 mmol/L. Is that considered too low?
I make sure to eat tomatoes every single day, and I’m having a banana almost daily as well—but looking at this number, it still feels a bit underwhelming to me.

I wouldn't say it's low, though it might be hovering right near the bottom edge of the range. You know how it goes—reference ranges can shift depending on which lab you use, but generally, you're looking at a normal potassium level somewhere between 3.7 or 3.8 up to maybe 5.5 mmol/l.

Well, it’s more of the same, yet I find myself slipping back into a period of intense curiosity—again.

I haven't actually sought out a specialist yet—mostly because since I've been "managing" something far more serious, this particular issue always seems to get pushed to the sidelines; it’s easily dismissed by the simple logic of "you're low on potassium—just shove more potassium into your system."

In truth, things have shifted because I decided to give up Aldactone entirely. I noticed it wasn't providing any real benefit, so I stuck strictly to 9g of potassium daily—split into three doses of 3g each using Kalinor—which allowed me to keep my blood potassium levels right at the lower limit, all while dealing with the fallout of gastritis.
Eventually, I switched over to Potassium Chloride. My stomach seems to handle it much better—presumably because, from what I gather, it lacks certain citrates found in Kalinor.
However, with the Potassium Chloride option, I was burning through an entire bottle a day 🤣and my gastroenterologist actually forbade me from taking it with just a little water; she insisted I dissolve it properly.
According to her, that means three times a day with every meal—dissolving 3g (or 6 tablets) into 1.2L of water to ensure optimal absorption—but frankly, the idea of chugging over 3 liters of this potassium-water solution all day, every single day, is just revolting to me. 🙂
Because it was so unbearable, my dosage was cut in half to 1.5g three times a day. Now my potassium levels hover around 3.5, which makes me wonder: what actually happens when there's a deficiency, given that I don't feel any symptoms whatsoever?

I am also curious about where it all goes. Thinking about it in a purely, almost banal way: if I ingest 9g of potassium and it doesn't enter my bloodstream, it has to end up somewhere else. It's not as if the body just ejects it via urine—especially since my 24-hour urine test shows my potassium levels are within the normal range... 😕

By the way, is there any other way to replenish potassium levels?

Hey, imagine!
How are you holding up lately?
I’m dealing with the exact same thing, just without any other underlying issues. I saw a nephrologist and spent some time at an endocrinology clinic, and everything supposedly looks fine. The weird part is, when I'm resting, my potassium levels stay steady, but as soon as I move around or exert myself, my potassium drops every single day, even with Kalinor. I keep upping the dose on my own, mostly because last time I was in the ER my potassium hit 3.0—they actually tried to send me to a psychiatrist!🤣
The endocrinologist ruled out aldosterone being the culprit for my mental state; everything there came back normal. But looking at my 24-hour urine test, my potassium is low there too, which means my kidneys aren't even flushing it out properly!🤷
Where is the potassium even going???

Potassium Chloride is primarily excreted through the kidneys, though some is lost via stool; it serves mainly to maintain intracellular gradients, among other functions. I wouldn't advise bypassing your primary care physician, though it is quite likely you'll need a consultation with a nephrologist. As for Aldactone—spironolactone—its use here seems strictly intended to conserve potassium rather than treating a renal issue that necessitates diuretic therapy.

goldenharbor42 said:Hey, imagine!
How are you holding up lately?
I’m dealing with the exact same thing, just without any other underlying issues. I saw a nephrologist and spent some time at an endocrinology clinic, and everything supposedly looks fine. The weird part is, when I'm resting, my potassium levels stay steady, but as soon as I move around or exert myself, my potassium drops every single day, even with Kalinor. I keep upping the dose on my own, mostly because last time I was in the ER my potassium hit 3.0—they actually tried to send me to a psychiatrist!🤣
The endocrinologist ruled out aldosterone being the culprit for my mental state; everything there came back normal. But looking at my 24-hour urine test, my potassium is low there too, which means my kidneys aren't even flushing it out properly!🤷
Where is the potassium even going???

Hmm....

I’ve essentially reached a resolution regarding my situation.
Granted, the same old issues tend to resurface from time to time—nothing a little Potassium Chloride 😛
can't handle, though.
Since I had spent quite a bit of time aggressively supplementing potassium without much success, I finally decided to seek out a full professional workup at a major hospital—consulting various specialists including nephrologists, endocrinologists, and the like... I went through an endless cycle of tests, repeating them over and over while they scratched their heads trying to pin down whatever ailment was causing this. In the end, the official conclusion was that the cause of my hypokalemia remains unknown—which is what's noted in my discharge papers 😂 along with the mandatory instruction to continue my potassium therapy exactly as before.

When you consider my history based on those posts above, the "solution" I eventually stumbled upon is so utterly absurd that I am practically at a loss for words. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who possesses even a shred of common sense. For that very reason, I would typically keep quiet about it to prevent anyone from getting any foolish ideas—not to mention there are actual doctors on this forum who would be rightfully concerned if they heard about this particular remedy.
If you're curious, feel free to send me a PM. 😉

Obviously I'm worried, my potassium levels are still dropping...
Sent you a DM, hit me back when you can...
Best

It looks like I'm dealing with low potassium too.🤷
My doctor didn't actually prescribe any supplements or anything specific,🤷 😕just suggested I eat more tomatoes, bananas, and maybe some goji berries if I remember correctly.
The funny thing is, I already eat tons of bananas and tomatoes—especially tomatoes. They're basically always in my fridge, year-round, so I honestly don't get how my potassium levels ended up this low.🤷
I really need to get my aldosterone levels checked; that might be what's causing the issue.
To be honest, my doctor isn't being super proactive about finding the root cause, probably because they assume I have an eating disorder🤣 🙄 since I also struggle with GERD.🙄
I don't feel any obvious symptoms, or maybe I just don't know what to look for. I've dealt with heart palpitations before, but that's an old issue. Lately, though, I've been feeling pretty exhausted and low on energy, if there's even a connection there.🤷 Since potassium is so vital for the nervous system, does anyone know if nervousness or irritability can be a side effect of low potassium?

When I say nervous system, I’m talking about the actual nerves and how those electrical impulses travel, not some vague psychological state... So, if you're dealing with a serious deficiency in Potassium Chloride, you start getting those weird sensory issues—tingling, pins and needles, that kind of thing—along with muscle spasms, usually in your limbs or even your face.

Benjamin Murphy2 said:When I say nervous system, I’m talking about the actual nerves and how those electrical impulses travel, not some vague psychological state... So, if you're dealing with a serious deficiency in Potassium Chloride, you start getting those weird sensory issues—tingling, pins and needles, that kind of thing—along with muscle spasms, usually in your limbs or even your face.

Aha, thanks🙂...I actually thought I was just feeling anxious, so I guess I was looking for an excuse for being on edge.😁

So, I’ve been dealing with high potassium levels... I even ended up in the hospital for it, though they couldn't quite pin down the underlying cause.
Every single month, I get my blood drawn, and sure enough, the potassium comes back elevated. I just received a referral for my next round of bloodwork scheduled for next month, and honestly, that seems to be the extent of it.
As far as I know, my kidney function is supposedly perfectly fine.

Does anyone here have any insight into what might cause excess potassium?

😕

My potassium levels always seem to be hovering right at the bottom edge of the normal range. I had some bloodwork done yesterday because I was running a fever, and my potassium came back at 3.52 (the lab range is 3.9-5.1).
Is that considered dangerously low?
Should I start taking supplements, or what's the move?

I’ve also really noticed this heaviness in my legs at night over the last 10 days or so. Maybe that's linked to it.

Chloe Garcia10 said:My potassium levels always seem to be hovering right at the bottom edge of the normal range. I had some bloodwork done yesterday because I was running a fever, and my potassium came back at 3.52 (the lab range is 3.9-5.1).
Is that considered dangerously low?
Should I start taking supplements, or what's the move?

I’ve also really noticed this heaviness in my legs at night over the last 10 days or so. Maybe that's linked to it.

That result isn't pathological. You just need to step up the intake of potassium-rich foods in your diet.

vividsailor7 said:That result isn't pathological. You just need to step up the intake of potassium-rich foods in your diet.

Thanks! I actually just polished off a banana.

For hypokalemia... what's actually considered the "healthier" route here? Taking Potassium Chloride or Kalinor (potassium citrate)?

I don't really have any issues regarding my potassium levels. I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, raisins, apricots, you name it.
I picked up some effervescent Potassium Magnesium + C tablets from Natural Wealth, and I was wondering—if I start taking these instead of just drinking fruit juice, is that going to cause any problems?
I mean, given how solid my diet already is, am I at risk of overdoing it on the potassium?
Thanks!

dustydrifter14 said:I don't really have any issues regarding my potassium levels. I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, raisins, apricots, you name it.
I picked up some effervescent Potassium Magnesium + C tablets from Natural Wealth, and I was wondering—if I start taking these instead of just drinking fruit juice, is that going to cause any problems?
I mean, given how solid my diet already is, am I at risk of overdoing it on the potassium?
Thanks!

As long as your kidneys are functioning properly, you should be fine. But if they aren't... well, then you might have a problem.

northernpilot55 said:Hmm, I find myself wondering about the actual metabolic pathway of potassium once it's ingested—where does it actually go? And more importantly, at what point does it become excessive?

For quite some time now, I’ve been dealing with this strange "depletion" of potassium—which, I suppose, is somewhat justified given my use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, not to mention my underlying health issues...

Since the beginning, I've been trying to replenish it artificially...

It started with those small effervescent tablets you dissolve in a glass of water, but one box disappears far too quickly, so I switched over to Kalinor, which was supposed to stabilize things—assuming there's about 2g of potassium in each tablet...

If my memory serves me correctly, the progression went like this:
2x1, then later
3x1, followed by
2x2, until finally being put on 100mg of Aldactone daily. But since my levels were still hovering right at the bottom limit, the Kalinor dosage climbed to 2x2 plus an extra 1x1...
....then eventually up to 3x2 (alongside the Aldactone)
and most recently, I've been at 3x3, which frankly makes no sense to me...

That would be 18g of potassium per day 😕 ????

Yet, looking at the insert for Kalinor, it suggests a normal dose is 1-2 tablets a day and warns against taking more than one at a single time...

So, I suppose I just need someone to tell me: "Don't worry, just keep going, because you can never have too much potassium," right?

Seriously though, you guys need to be extremely careful with Klor-Tech; it sent my blood sugar spiking north of 270, and it didn't settle back down for a solid 15 hours. If you're using those effervescent tablets, make sure you're checking your glucose levels throughout the day without fail. Honestly, switching to standard Potassium Chloride tablets is a much better move.