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can low potassium make anxiety worse?

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Posted 2/27/2014 9:43 AM (GMT 0)
i ve been neglecting to take my prescribed potassium supplement an my physician said today that my levels are low. i read that low potassiiium can cause anxiety. does anyone know whether this could be the reason that mu anxiety is so terrible for the last few days, also depression?
Posted 2/27/2014 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
From what I'm reading, via Google, it most definitely can. Low magnesium as well.
Why did you stop the potassium?
You need to take care of you! :)
janet
Posted 2/27/2014 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Yes! I have low potassium but my cardiologist prescribed me anything so I take a multi vitamin. It can cause Heart palps and weak/painful muscles. You're hearts a muscle that's the cause. And if you feel weak and jittery its must likely the potassium deficiency effecting your muscles!
Posted 2/27/2014 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Potassium is found abundantly throughout your body. In fact, it is one of the most common minerals in your body. Potassium helps with just about every bodily function. An imbalance of potassium can cause many different side effects, one being anxiety.

I am on chemo and my potassium runs on the low side so the Dr. kept ordering higher and higher doses of potassium supplements. My PCP was not happy and wanted to find out why my body was wasting Potassium so we did some tests and found the cause.  I still take the supplements but not in the large doses the oncologist NP prescribed for me.

Find out why you are running low or be sure to take your meds.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 2/27/2014 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I also run low on the potassium scale, so I take prescription Klor-Con.

I've had my levels drop dangerously low in the hospital, and from at least my personal experience, you bet low potassium levels can cause all kinds of havoc. I was particularly worried about my cardiac function, but I also found my cognitive clarity was all muddled and I was having full body cramps.

I take it religiously now, ever day, and have labs for it every 3 months.

As Kitt pointed out, it's also important to find out why you're running low, not just that you are running low.

It's also a good idea to take this, and your regular meds, at the same time each day, to be on a schedule. I've found that it works for me so I'm staying on track with everything! :)



M.
Posted 2/28/2014 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
thanks guys, i m low in potassium normally, because the antibiotic that i take every day, depletes you of it. normally i take 1 tab, twice a day. during my current time of extreme anxiety, i stopped taking everythinh which i thought was not essential, cos i was having a hard time makinh myself do anything at all, and didn t know about the connection between potassium and anxiety.. so, maybe this, combined with my gad, has pushed me over the edge. started taking it again last night, and am waiting on drs advice. he doubled my dose yesterday when bloodwork showed me to be low, but he didn t mention anxiety. i m asking how high a dose i can safely take. love and blessings
Posted 2/28/2014 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
I actually found this post really integrating because just today dodoctor told me I was slightly low in potassium and I've been having heart palpitations and they didn't prescribe me to take anything they just gave me a potassium vitamin there. Does anyone know what foods contain potassium?
Posted 3/29/2015 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Stkitt. Im a potass dropper. What did they find out bout why you always dropped potass?
Posted 3/30/2015 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Frannie,

I believe it was a complication of either Kitt's illness or chemotherapy.

I hope that you and your health care professional have worked out why yours runs low...and you now have a good management plan for keeping it in healty range.:)

Scaredy Cat
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