Can I Take Hydrochlorithizide Safely If I Take Potassium Pills?

Posted on Fri, 1 Mar 2019

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

Fri, 1 Mar 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : can I take hydrochlorithizide safely if I take potassium pills? Potassium level is3.8 I almost died from takeing too much lasix

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (-4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes but the dosage would have to be individualized

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

diuretics do have this side effect (hypokalemia = low serum potassium). Both lasix and hydrochlorthiazide (HCT) may lower your potassium levels. If diuretics are absolutely needed, there are two ways to go about it.
- take potassium pills every so often
- take a potassium sparing diuretic along with lasix or HCT (the first combination is much more common)

In both cases the dosage would have to be individualized since there is no way to predict the effect of the diuretics in any particular individual.

I hope I've answered your question. Please let me know if you need further assistance.

Kind Regards,
Dr Panagiotis Zografakis

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