Does anyone here take a potassium supplement? Is it messing with your stomach?

[Denninmi]

Just wondering, I have been on one for a few weeks now, just a big white KCl horse pill. I think it might be some kind of slow release thing, because it says do not cut, break, or chew on the bottle. (Of course, I was too lazy to read the pharmacy printout).

Over the past week - 10 days, every time I eat something, I get the worst stomach ache afterwards for an hour or so.

It has to be the KCl, it says right on the bottle it can cause GI upset. Nothing else has changed in my life.

Looks like I'm stuck with it, like it or not, at least for now, cardiologist has me on a pretty high dose of bumex and that depletes you blood K easily from what I understand. I didn't have the stomach problems the first few weeks I was on bumex, not until he added the potassium.

Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this?

[PoliticAverse]

1. They are known to make people nauseous. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. you taking it with food?

[noamnety]

3. Do not chew on the bottle!

Make sure you are following that rule!

[blogslut]

4. Can you eat banana?

One banana provides 12% of the average daily potassium requirement.

[elleng]

5. Was gonna suggest the same thing.

10 bananas a day???!!!!

[blogslut]

6. Well, I don't want to give medical advice

But maybe cut the pill in half and eat 3-4 bananas? Or some such whatever.

Perhaps the supplement/dosage is too strong?

I found this from UCDavis (it's a pdf). Foods high in potassium:

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/transplant/posttransplant/post_potass_eng.pdf

[hopemountain]

7. see if your doc will prescribe a

potassium supplement in powder form that you can mix with juice or something else.

do not take on empty stomach. make sure you are drinking plenty of water.

one used to be able to get 400 mgs of potassium from a can of kern's apricot nectar ( dilute can into pitcher with ice and seltzer water with some lemon juice and sip on it through out the day - really refreshing).

it's important to have a good daily source of potassium if you are on diuretics - otherwise, you will feel weak / loopy when the potassium levels get too low. in 1900 the average american diet included potassium rich foods - up to 14,000 mgs per day because our soils were so rich - but today's foods are sorely inferior with regard to potassium content.

[grasswire]

8. no problem for me

I take three pills daily. Never had a problem with it. I would have a problem if I didn't take it!

[RILib]

9. be cautious

Make sure you are not getting too much or too little. That stuff can literally stop hearts.

[EdwardSmith74]

10. It's never bothered me. Try V-8. It has about 460mg/8oz serving and is good with vodka.