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Will Potassium Sparing Diuretic Cause Fluctuations In Serum Potassium Levels?

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Posted on Sat, 30 Nov 2013
Twitter Sat, 30 Nov 2013 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 20 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on
Question : I has been getting palpitations and got blood drawn on thursday. I remember being asked to clench my fists as the nurse was finding it hard to get blood. On friday (24 hours later) I got a call from my doctor telling me my labs showed a serum k of 6 and that I was to avoid all potassium rich foods and supplements. I immefiately took myself to the ER where they retested the result was 3.5. Now my question is, without the opportunity to alter my diet, could serum k have fallen from. 6 to 3.5 in 24 hours? I know that there is a risk that due to fist clenching the first result was an error but is there a chance that it was accurate and fell natirally to 3.5 the next day? I am concerned becsuse i take a potassium sparing diuretic and i worry it is causing issues with my seum potassium levels. Thanks for your snswer.
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Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer: normal Detailed Answer: Hi, it is possible that your values were normal. 6 is not very high and its just above normal which could be a lab error. Since immediate next value was normal there is nothing to worry. Just relax and live normal. Regards, Dr. Mahesh Koregol
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Koregol (58 minutes later)
So you are saying it's possible for serum potassium to fall in 24 hours from 6 to 3.5 without a change in diet or supplementation and there may not have been a lad error. The point of my question is to see how volatile my potassium is. Can it move so much is such a short time? Your other colleague said I would have been in intensive care with a k of 6 and you're saying it's not that high. I am very confused. How can I keep my potassium stable if it can jump from 3.9 to 6 to 3.5 with no kidney problems.
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Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (2 hours later)
Brief Answer: wrong report Detailed Answer: Hi, What I meant to say was 3.5 seem to be fight value as there cant be such a wide variation. You were fine when levels were 6. Hence your potassium level seems to be within normal range. Therefore I don't recommend any treatment based in one wrong value of 6 especially with normal kidneys Regards
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.

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

Infertility Specialist

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Will Potassium Sparing Diuretic Cause Fluctuations In Serum Potassium Levels?

Brief Answer: normal Detailed Answer: Hi, it is possible that your values were normal. 6 is not very high and its just above normal which could be a lab error. Since immediate next value was normal there is nothing to worry. Just relax and live normal. Regards, Dr. Mahesh Koregol