Prednisone & Potassium, watch it

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Diagnosed UC April 27, 2006

Thank You i didn't know that. I'm still learning about all of this. I have UC. And now in 3 years its in my whole colon, when it started very small and then last year it was left side UC. I've just now stopped bleeding 6 days ago. When i've always bleed for the whole 3 years!!!! So i'm still learning thank you so much..

I had heard that prednisone would cause low potassium but had forgotten until I started getting leg cramps in the middle of the night...Almost every night while sleeping, I would get a cramp in the back of my leg or in the bottom of my foot...I've been on pred for several months now, anywhere from 40mg to 10mg...Then is when I decided I must be low in potassium...I stocked up on bananas and ate plenty of them...In March when I had my colonoscopy, they took blood and then called me and said I had low potassium then...Probably from not eating for 2 days!!! My GI told me to eat a couple of bananas a day to get it back up...I did look up on the internet what food had lots of potassium besides bananas...I can eat a few of them, but then I get incredibly tired of them...Thank goodness there are lots of food that contain a good amount of potassium...

Thanks for the heads up. Bananas are a part of my life since my UC went crazy on me for the past 7 years (I had UC since 1997 but I was living normally, i.e. just the occasional bleeding but only 1 BM per day, before 2000), so its good to know that even if I eat them I still could be at risk for low potassium levels.

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Ulcerative Colitis - Diagnosed: 1997 (2nd yr HS)

As of 09/04/07:
"Rebooting" my gut
Prednisone - 7.5mg in the morning, 2.5mg in the evening (tapering 2.5mg/week) (Went up again after 5 days of D)
AMP Plus - 10 tablets a day (5 in AM, 5 in PM)
Lifetime Acidophilus - 3 capsules/day (Stopped momentarily)
Pentasa - 3x 500mg per day (Stopped momentarily)
5' 3" - 92 lbs
location: Philippines

Where abouts in the Philippines are you? I lived in Ayala Alabang from 1996-1998.

My Gi told me to eat 3 bananas a day on 40-60mg and drink lots of Oj (I water it down a lot though). He said that prednisone sucks out potassium. Unfortuneatly I hate bananas! I eat them but ugh...so glad i'm almost done with steroids!

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Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, down to 20 mg pred.
75mg Imuran starting 8/23/07---fingers crossed!
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

yes, I have low potassium and was also told to eat banana's and tomatoes, which I love, except I love salt on my tomatoes too......I am now on a low salt diet, awesome!

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Beth, 31

Yep, after this last time on prednisone, I'm stuck on potassium supplements now because my potassium was 1.8 (I think it's supposed to be around 3 or 4) and it wasn't changing with my diet so I have to take even more meds now. Yay!

Don't forget to take calcium supplements as well on prednisone, as it leaches it from your bones.

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Female, 22, Ulcerative colitis (pancolitis) since 1999; GERD; gastritis; osteopenia in hip & lumbar region of spine from long term prednisone use

Current Meds:
Primadophilus Reuteri
40 mg Citalopram (for depression/social anxiety)
125mg Imuran