Prednisone & Potassium, watch it

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]

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...

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;

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]

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.