Patient education: Hyperkalemia (The Basics)

What is hyperkalemia? — Hyperkalemia is the medical term for having too much potassium in your blood.

Potassium is a mineral found in certain foods. The body needs potassium to work normally. It keeps the heart beating and helps the nerves and muscles work.

In people with hyperkalemia, the body holds on to too much potassium. This can cause problems.

What causes hyperkalemia? — People can get hyperkalemia if their kidneys are damaged or injured. Normally, the kidneys help your body get rid of extra potassium. If they are not working well, potassium can build up in the body.

People can also get hyperkalemia if they take certain medicines. Most of these medicines are used to treat high blood pressure or heart problems. They include:

●ACE inhibitors, such as enalapril (brand names: Epaned, Vasotec), lisinopril, and ramipril (brand name: Altace)

●Angiotensin receptor blockers ("ARBs"), such as irbesartan (brand name: Avapro) and valsartan (brand name: Diovan)

●Aliskiren (brand name: Tekturna)

●Aldosterone antagonists, such as spironolactone (brand name: Aldactone) and eplerenone (brand name: Inspra)

●Certain beta blockers, such as carvedilol (brand name: Coreg) or metoprolol (brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL)

●NSAIDs – You can buy certain kinds of NSAIDs at the pharmacy without a prescription. These include ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). But for other NSAIDs, such as celecoxib (brand name: Celebrex), you need a prescription.

●Digoxin (brand name: Lanoxin)

Some medical conditions can also cause hyperkalemia.

What are the symptoms of hyperkalemia? — Symptoms can include:

●Muscle weakness – This usually starts in the legs and then spreads to the middle of the body and the arms.

●Heart problems – The heart might beat too slowly or too quickly.

Is there a test for hyperkalemia? — Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects that you have hyperkalemia, they will do a blood test to measure the level of potassium in your blood.

You might also have a test called an electrocardiogram ("ECG"). This test records the electrical activity of the heart.

How is hyperkalemia treated? — Most of the time, doctors treat hyperkalemia by recommending a change in your diet or medicines:

●To treat your hyperkalemia, you need to eat a diet that has very little potassium. This means that you will need to eat more low-potassium foods (table 1) and fewer high-potassium foods (table 2). Your doctor can refer you to a dietitian (food expert) who can help you plan meals that are low in potassium.

●If your hyperkalemia was caused by a medicine you take, your doctor might also decide to lower the dose of the medicine or to switch you to a different medicine.

●If you have severe hyperkalemia, you might need medicines or other treatments to lower your potassium level.

Can hyperkalemia be prevented? — If you have kidney disease, you can lower your chances of getting hyperkalemia by eating a low-potassium diet.

When should I call the doctor?

Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you think that you might be having a heart attack. Symptoms can include:

●Chest pain

●Trouble breathing

●A fast heartbeat

●Feeling dizzy or like you might pass out

●Nausea or vomiting

Call your doctor or nurse for advice if you have:

●An irregular heartbeat

●Lightheadedness or confusion

●Muscle weakness

●Numbness or tingling in your arms or legs

More on this topic

Patient education: Side effects from medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Low-potassium diet (The Basics)
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Patient education: Diet for people with nondialysis chronic kidney disease (The Basics)

Patient education: Low-potassium diet (Beyond the Basics)