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What Causes Low Potassium Levels While Taking Synthyriod Medication?

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Posted on Wed, 19 Feb 2014
Question: My potassium for the past year and 1/2 has been sometimes low inmean like 3.0 and no matter what inhave symptoms whenever its goes past 3.4/3.5 .. Always go to ER with palpitations and pounding heart feeling and just like now in ER with 3.3 potassium level. Infwlt heart racing and pounding and palpations. I dont know why i feel it so bad when it is not something i should feel unless below 3.0 correct? i eat a bananna , orange juice a cup a day, some boston lettuce with avacodo. I dont know my potassium goes below the normal range alot. I do not know what else to do ? No stress no anxiety but this potassium thing is not right and itnmakes me scared everyday that it is low . What are suggestions ? Why is is this happening . Only take synthyriod 112mcg no other meds , I am 43 female , no other History but early menopause
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (2 hours later)
Brief Answer: synthyroid tablet may be the culprit. Detailed Answer: Hi Ms XXXXXXX welcome to XXXXXXX The whole discription given by you points to your Thyroxine (synthyroid) tablet as a possible culprit. Palpitations and pounding heart are symptoms of hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid), not hypokalemic symptoms- which can happen when you are taking excess thyroid hormone than required. What also fits, is your hypokalemia. Patients with hyperthyroidism can have severe hypokalemia and may also develop severe fatigue and sometimes paralysis like state (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis). So my suggestion is, make sure that you are not taking excess thyroid dose. you may reduce the dose to 100ug after consulting your doctor. I hope it will solve your problem. Feel free to post any queries. Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Follow up: Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (2 hours later)
So my thyroid level is low .. That makes me hyper so lower my medication ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (6 hours later)
Brief Answer: this is a possibility when other causes are exclud Detailed Answer: Hi what's the levels of your t3 , t4 ,and TSH. I mean that patients who are on thyroid can occasionally exhibit this hyperresponsiveness to thyroxine they take. This is a possibility which should be considered after ruling out all the causes of low potassium like urinary loss , intestinal loss etc. You should check this out with your doctor. Hope this is clear. Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Vaddadi Suresh

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 963 Questions

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What Causes Low Potassium Levels While Taking Synthyriod Medication?

Brief Answer: synthyroid tablet may be the culprit. Detailed Answer: Hi Ms XXXXXXX welcome to XXXXXXX The whole discription given by you points to your Thyroxine (synthyroid) tablet as a possible culprit. Palpitations and pounding heart are symptoms of hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid), not hypokalemic symptoms- which can happen when you are taking excess thyroid hormone than required. What also fits, is your hypokalemia. Patients with hyperthyroidism can have severe hypokalemia and may also develop severe fatigue and sometimes paralysis like state (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis). So my suggestion is, make sure that you are not taking excess thyroid dose. you may reduce the dose to 100ug after consulting your doctor. I hope it will solve your problem. Feel free to post any queries. Regards.