title: Prevention of hypokalemia caused by diuretics.
abstract: Hypokalemia induced by the use of diuretics is common. Those at risk include the elderly, women, patients with edematous states, and patients in whom higher doses and/or the more potent agents are used. Prevention should include a low-salt diet rich in potassium, magnesium, and chloride (either through foods enriched with these elements or through potassium chloride supplements) and use of low doses of short-acting diuretics in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. The subgroup of hypertensive patients in whom hypokalemia develops despite these recommendations may benefit from a change to the potassium-sparing diuretic spironolactone or substitution of diuretics with alternative first-line drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn VA Medical Center.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delaney
mesh_terms: D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary