How Serioud Is Low TSH 0.18 And Low Potassium 3.3?

Posted on Mon, 3 Feb 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 3 Feb 2014 Answered on

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : How urgent is low tsh 0.18 and low potassium 3.3 given 40 meq yesterday at ER .. Had palpitations

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Hi and welcome to XXXXXXX Detailed Answer: Thanks for the query. This is moderately decreased TSH but this is not urgent condition. You should see endocrinologist and find the right causes of low TSH. Most commonly this is some autoimmune disease or thyroid adenoma. 3.3 is low potassium,but this is not significant fall too. It can be treated by standard oral supplements and you should check its level again in 2 days. Both TSH and low potassium can be cause of heart palpitations,but some serious consequances rarely happens. However,you should keep your potassium level within normal range by dietary changes or if there is persistant decrease,then you should check your kidney function. Wish you good health. Feel free to ask. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (27 minutes later)

Had total thriodectomy in 1990 i take synthyriod 112mcg .. I thought the potassium levels were low because my TSH level was 0.18 low

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer: hi Detailed Answer: Low potassium can be caused by hyperthyreidemia and it means that there are elevated levels of thyroid hormones. So you may be taking to much synthiroid. Tsh dont have direct effect on potassium.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar