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Potassium Defiency?

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Posted 10/26/2011 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
I just got my bloodwork done for my Imuran and joy my mom took extra (she works in the lab) since I haven't been feeling well, I have a cold, and she said my potassium was extremely low.  Sent it over to my normal dr and he wants me to start on some potassium supplements.  Of course I didn't talk to anybody while this was happening and my first and only question is .. are these pills going to effect my prednisone taper?  I'm at 5mgs from 40 this summer and I am refusing to put anything else in my body until I know.  My doctor isn't actually in his office on wednesdays, he is just at the hospital or I'd call. It's on my list for 8am tomorrow.  What can the defiency come from?  The pred taper?
Posted 10/26/2011 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Are you urinating a LOT??

How low are you in Potassium? a huge number? just a little?

How was your sodium?

q
Posted 10/26/2011 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I don't see why a potassium supplement would affect your prednisone taper. It's actually not uncommon to be deficient in potassium if you're taking prednisone, since it causes you to pee a lot of it out. I would check with your doctor to be safe and if you are concerned, though.
Posted 10/27/2011 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, not sure how/if that would affect prednisone. I had to get potassium/chloride pills for 2 days about last month. I caught a gastro bug going around and had the runs for about 6 days. Within 3 hours after taking the first pills, I had felt so much better. It's amazing how these things work. I didn't ask details though as I was so wiped out.

And I forgot the mention the doc also prescribed Olestyr 1 to 2 packets per day for 2 weeks. It's an antihypercholesterolemic and antidiarrheal. It's like a fiber. I have never seen or heard of this before but it helped also.

It's a powder, orange flavour and I tried it with water or other drinks but it just did not mix well, so I put in yogourt. You have to let is sit for a bit for it to get absorbed within the yogourt.


It's not bad actually, you get used to the taste. I still have a few left and use only as I need for fiber.
Posted 10/27/2011 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hm. No, I haven't been urinating an excessive amount but I do feel wiped out. I should probably take the pills today. My level was 2.6 and 2.4 is critical. I have no idea what my sodium level was, im assuming normal. I'm currently on 5mgs of prednisone, only on day 3 and looking to taper down in about a week to be off it. I never knew they had a connection... I've been on as high as 50 though, you would think that you would get the defiency at a higher dosage?
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