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Suggest Treatment When Having High Potassium Levels In Blood

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Posted on Sat, 4 Jul 2015
Question: Potassium Poisoning. High Levels of Potassium in my blood tests. 3 tests in three days show the level of potassium accelorating
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please, what are the levels?

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this rising levels of potassium in your blood. I will like to know what the exact numbers are and whether you need immediate intervention. High levels of potassium are a concern as they affect heart function. Do you have any symptoms? and what other drugs are you on. And what makes you think it is potassium poisoning?

One most common cause of high potassium levels are poorly collected and analyzed blood sample. This would be more common in the absence of symptoms suggestive of high levels of potassium.

In all, provide me with the numbers, your drugs and any symptoms. I will review them and provide more insights. For now, it is difficult to make solid conclusions and useful recommendations without this information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (53 minutes later)
I have had three (3) blood samples taken in a succession of three days. One from the ER of a well known hospital and two from a pathology lab. The ER states that from an ultrasound that my kidney's look healthy. Please give my your best educated explanation for a sudden rise in my potassium level. I just want a bit of background on what might cause the elevated count.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
See below!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The most common cause of high potassium is cells rupture during collection or shortly after collection. This is especially the case when there are no symptoms.

Next causes are medications. This is common with drugs such as water pills and drugs used in treating hypertension. Potassium supplements are possible causes as well.

Genuine causes are kidney disease. With normal kidneys as reported by your doctor, this is unlikely.
XXXXXXX within me, unless there are symptoms and there is a known disease that causes this, I strongly believe this is collection or laboratory error. Numbers would also help me to be more precise.

I wish you well. Any further worries, please feel free to ask me and I will gladly respond to them.
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

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

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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Suggest Treatment When Having High Potassium Levels In Blood

Brief Answer: Please, what are the levels? Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this rising levels of potassium in your blood. I will like to know what the exact numbers are and whether you need immediate intervention. High levels of potassium are a concern as they affect heart function. Do you have any symptoms? and what other drugs are you on. And what makes you think it is potassium poisoning? One most common cause of high potassium levels are poorly collected and analyzed blood sample. This would be more common in the absence of symptoms suggestive of high levels of potassium. In all, provide me with the numbers, your drugs and any symptoms. I will review them and provide more insights. For now, it is difficult to make solid conclusions and useful recommendations without this information.