Prednisone & Potassium, watch it

Meesh

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2006

Posts : 619

Posted 9/10/2007 8:17 PM (GMT -6)

I am tapering off Prednisone and have been on it since April 2006. I had a blood test the other day and am quite low in Potassium. They gave me a food list of things to eat that are high in Potassium and they are mostly foods I like and eat regularly, so I was surprised about the low Potassium. I did a little Web search and low and behold, Prednisone can cause low Potassium. Now I was well aware about the link between Pred and needing to watch your Calcium and to be careful of high sodium foods, but I was not aware of the Potassium link. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone else was similarly unaware.

Mmmmmm..... banana smoothie here I come ....

Meesh

Diagnosed UC April 27, 2006

Remicade: 1st infusion 7/21/07; 2nd infusion 8/18/07

Colazal three 750 mg capsules 3X day; Protonix;

Prednisone 4/27/06-present; failed at every taper attempt until Remicade infusion. Currently alternating 5/0 mg; ~~Xanax; Rowesa;~~ ~~Asacol;~~ [2/22/07 started Imuran, off within two weeks due to bad reaction]

happydays

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 69

Posted 9/10/2007 8:31 PM (GMT -6)

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..

bk1579

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 100

Posted 9/10/2007 8:42 PM (GMT -6)

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...

ach13

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2007

Posts : 41

Posted 9/10/2007 9:17 PM (GMT -6)

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.

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

Meesh

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2006

Posts : 619

Posted 9/11/2007 2:07 PM (GMT -6)

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

Diagnosed UC April 27, 2006

Remicade: 1st infusion 7/21/07; 2nd infusion 8/18/07

Colazal three 750 mg capsules 3X day; Protonix;

kb5

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2007

Posts : 1015

Posted 9/11/2007 5:03 PM (GMT -6)

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!

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

Beth75

Veteran Member

Joined : Jul 2007

Posts : 2148

Posted 9/12/2007 8:07 AM (GMT -6)

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!

Beth, 31

UC Diagnosed March 2000

~~Lialda 2.4mg 1xday since 8/24/07~~ (prev. Asacol 4800mg day),Calcium and Vit D 500mg 2xday.

Minimal Change Disease (Kidney Disorder) Diagnosed Sept 2007

Prednisone 60mg 1xday, Simvastatin 20 mg 1xday

Diovan 80mg 1xday. Fosomax 1xweek 70mg. MCD may be from hypersensitivty to 5ASA drugs.

ediekristen

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2007

Posts : 1366

Posted 9/12/2007 1:18 PM (GMT -6)

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.

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

10meq Potassium Cl

Caltrate Bone & Colon Health- 600 mg calcium + 400 IU of vitamin D

Vitamin B-12 Supplement

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