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Before Using
If you are taking a dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For these supplements, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Although there is no specific information comparing use of potassium supplements in children with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of potassium supplements in the elderly with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.
Older adults may be at a greater risk of developing high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia).
Pregnancy
Potassium supplements have not been shown to cause problems in humans.
Breastfeeding
Potassium supplements pass into breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Drug Interactions
Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with dietary supplements in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Amantadine
- Atropine
- Belladonna
- Belladonna Alkaloids
- Benztropine
- Biperiden
- Clidinium
- Dicyclomine
- Eplerenone
- Glycopyrrolate
- Hyoscyamine
- Methscopolamine
- Oxybutynin
- Procyclidine
- Scopolamine
- Solifenacin
- Tolterodine
- Trihexyphenidyl
Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alacepril
- Amiloride
- Benazepril
- Canrenoate
- Captopril
- Cilazapril
- Delapril
- Enalaprilat
- Enalapril Maleate
- Fosinopril
- Imidapril
- Indomethacin
- Lisinopril
- Moexipril
- Pentopril
- Perindopril
- Quinapril
- Ramipril
- Spirapril
- Spironolactone
- Temocapril
- Trandolapril
- Triamterene
- Zofenopril
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dietary supplements in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Addison's disease (underactive adrenal glands) or
- Dehydration (excessive loss of body water, continuing or severe)
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus or
- Kidney disease—Potassium supplements may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium), which may worsen or cause heart problems in patients with these conditions.
- Diarrhea (continuing or severe)—The loss of fluid in combination with potassium supplements may cause kidney problems, which may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium).
- Heart disease—Potassium supplements may make this condition worse.
- Intestinal or esophageal blockage—Potassium supplements may damage the intestines.
- Stomach ulcer—Potassium supplements may make this condition worse.
