Please note that for the past 10+ years my mother has been taking Verapamil 240 mg in the morning and Benicar 40 mg at night. Her blood pressure spike really high which is why she takes the strong Verapamil in the morning and a softer blood pressure medication (Benicar) at night. Anyway, after the episode where I had to take her to the emergency room we got her back on her usual routine of Verapamil and Benicar.
This could just be a one time thing though. You could be rechecked and your potassium is at a normal level. You should see your doctor and have the potassium rechecked. Sometimes while you are having your blood drawn, the blood can hemolyze and cause abnormal results due to the blood draw, meaning that it is not a true reading and should be redrawn. See your doctor. I hope this helps.
Potassium is used to maintain a balance between chemical and electrical reactions in the body, potassium being an electrolyte. Excess Potassium is removed from the body by the Kidneys and so this would be a starting point. The Hormone aldosterone controls the rate at which the kidneys remove potassium,water and sodium from the blood and this hormone is a steriod type produced in the adrenal gland. Some medications as a side effect act as a aldosterone inhibitor.
a day before the surgery along with Zocor to control cholesterol. I am now on Plavix, Toprol XL, Zocor and Benicar. My blood pressure has been low, in the range of 90/60 since the surgery but the cardiologist wants me to continue the Benicar. He said it's "good for the heart". Has anyone ever heard of this before? My understanding was that Benicar is for high BP. Also, I have been feeling very down and blue a lot of the time.
ve been browsing internet sites to gather information and saw that there is a link between high potassium levels and thyroid problems. My initial thyroid blood tests came up normal, TSH 1.47, T4Free 0.95 and T3,Free 312. my thyroglobulin antibodies were slightly high, at 21 and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were less than 10. The next blood labs, done in the hospital, were TSH .69, free T$ 0.74 and "normal" thyroid gland antibodies.
Lately, I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (on benicar now) and yesterday I saw a neurologist who told me that I have mild Carpel Tunnel and a pinched nerve. For the last two days, I have a dull headache in the back of my head and am filling kind of weak, also I feel like I am moving slower, like my speech and thoughts. Am I just freaking myself out or is there something seriously wrong with me?
I have not had any recent blood work done in the last four months her self but I am going to pull out those records from that time and see what potassium levels look like. There’s a great website at the mayo clinic about low potassium but I have yet to find an answer as to the relationship with the thyroid. I’m sure it’s there though I’m sure there’s a relationship just don’t know how.
Before the Losartan, I was taking 90 mgs of Armour (which is T3 AND T4) daily. After just a few weeks on the Losartan, I became hyperthyroid for a while, and my doctor lowered my dose of Armour (down to 60.)
I have not noticed heat intolerance, but I am losing weight--slowly (which I don't mind as I am about 20 lbs over bikini-wearing level.)
Never heard of the Marshall protocol, but I'm going to look it up!
A multivitamin has magnesium in it so this should be fine. Potassium and magnesium levels often go together, and if there is a low potassium there also may be a low magnesium level. There are many websites that can educate you on foods that have high and safe levels of magnesium and potassium to incorporate in your diet. I would start with these conservative measures first.
Abnormal potassium levels may cause symptoms such as muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination, dehydration, low blood pressure, confusion, irritability, paralysis, and changes in heart rhythm." It does not specify which side effects are from potassium being too high and which are associated with it being too low, but you could certainly google "potassium too high" and get some good information.
I also have had an elevated BUN and Creatinine since beginning Benicar. I am also on Toprol XL 25mg daily. My Benicar dose was dropped from 40 to 20 mg daily last visit. I am concerned about the elevated BUn as it is indicative of renal issues. I drink more water daily and will see on my next visit to doc in Sep what we will do as a plan if my labs are abnormal. I might add I think these 2 have also elevated my cholesterol and LDL!
Look forward to follow up note.
Did your doctor tell you to take supplements to keep your levels up and/or eat foods that are rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium in order to avoid deficiency again? These are electrolytes and must be kept in balance with other electrolytes - sodium and chloride.
Many of us have to take magnesium supplements to prevent symptoms of deficiency. Magnesium citrate seems to be the best type to take, as magnesium oxide is mostly good as a laxative.
My LDL is 223 and before 222. when taking toprol XL 50-75 mg. My cholesterol is 177 when I am not on antihypertensive drugs. Is there any documentation that proves Toprol XL can elevate cholesteral levels.
Thank you, Sandra Smigielski R.N.
This discussion is related to <a href='http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/253568'>Toprol XL and Benicar side effects</a>.
I recently had a health check done and the doctor called me to say that everything appeared fine except for my calcium and potassium levels which were low. I have been using Gaviscon quite a bit recently (currently awaiting appointment for urea breath test to see if I have h pylori which is causing reflux). Anyway she advised me to stay off the Gaviscon for a week as this may be causing the low potassium levels. She also said that my kidney tests came back fine.
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