It is best to take this medicine with a meal or bedtime snack, or within 30 minutes after meals. Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or suck it. Doing so, may cause irritation in the mouth or throat.
A: You should take a potassium supplement in the morning so the body can use it throughout the day for its various functions, including muscle and heart health. But if you have any dietary restrictions preventing you from having food earlier in the day, you may take it at night instead.
Always take your potassium with food. If you take a long-acting tablet or capsule, swallow it with a full glass of water. Don't crush or chew it unless you're told it's OK to do so. If you take potassium as granules, powder, fizzing tablets, or liquid, you must dilute it in at least 1 cup (8 oz.)
Taking it at night can support muscle repair and growth, especially after intense physical activity. Blood pressure regulation: Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Taking it at night may have a positive impact on blood pressure control.
Studies have shown that potassium supplements may boost sleeping through the night, but good food sources are beans, leafy greens, avocados, baked potatoes, and to a lesser degree, bananas.
People with chronic kidney disease or CKD should avoid or limit foods that are high in potassium. High-potassium levels can cause serious symptoms, including an irregular heartbeat and muscle cramping. Low-potassium levels can cause muscles to become weak.
It's best not to lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking a dose of potassium citrate (Urocit-K), as doing so can rise your risk of side effects like nausea and stomach upset. Don't cut, crush, or chew the tablets. This will affect the way potassium citrate (Urocit-K) works.
When taken by mouth: Potassium is likely safe for most people when taken by mouth in amounts of up to 100 mEq (3900 mg) of total potassium daily. In some people, potassium can cause stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or intestinal gas.
In some cases, too much potassium may cause muscle weakness, confusion, irregular heartbeat, or difficult breathing.
Magnesium and potassium are often prescribed together for treating certain diseases and illnesses, such as heart failure, as they both provide cardiovascular benefits. Both minerals also work synergistically together to improve mood and reduce the risk of mental health conditions.
Take potassium and magnesium supplements right after meals or with food. Follow the label on how often to take it. The number of doses you take each day, the time between doses, and how long you take it will depend on which medicines you were prescribed and your condition.
To prevent potassium loss or replace potassium lost by the body: Adults and teenagers—20 milliequivalents (mEq) mixed into one-half glass of cold water or juice, taken two to four times a day. Your doctor may change the dose if needed. However, most people will not take more than 100 mEq a day.
Take each oral potassium chloride dose with a meal and full glass of water or other liquid to lower the chances of stomach upset. Don't take oral potassium chloride on an empty stomach. Ask your provider or dietician to see if you're already getting enough potassium through foods based on your diet.
Hypokalemia is often caused by an excessive loss of potassium in your digestive tract due to vomiting, diarrhea or laxative use. Other causes include certain medications and some adrenal and genetic conditions.
However, symptoms of hypokalemia may include attacks of severe muscle weakness, eventually leading to paralysis and possibly respiratory failure. Muscular malfunction may result in paralysis of the bowel, low blood pressure, muscle twitches and mineral deficiencies (tetany).
Constipation. Potassium plays an important role in relaying messages from the brain to the muscles and regulating muscle contractions. Low potassium levels can affect the muscles in the intestines, which can slow the passage of food and waste. This effect on the intestines can cause constipation and bloating.
Certain medications (such as diuretics), as well as conditions involving malabsorption, malnutrition, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive sweating, can also cause low potassium levels. Additionally, tobacco and caffeine can reduce potassium absorption in the body, which can lead to a deficiency.
You can take a potassium test at home, either with a blood or urine sample. If using a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day. For blood tests, you often need to visit a local laboratory to have your sample collected.
If you are taking oral supplements for hypokalemia, it may take several days to weeks to get your potassium level back up. In certain situations, you may need to stay on oral potassium pills long term to counterbalance your body's loss of potassium.