Cause 4: Certain Medications
It’s not uncommon for the solution to one problem to inadvertently stir up another, and certain medications are a prime example of this. While indispensable for treating various conditions, some drugs can interfere with your body’s potassium balance, pushing you towards Hypokalemia.
Medicines like certain antibiotics, laxatives, steroids, and even some asthma medications can negatively influence your potassium levels. They may increase your body’s potassium excretion or disrupt its absorption, depleting your stores over time. This is particularly a concern for those on long-term medication use.
This doesn’t mean that you should toss your prescribed medications out the window, though. It’s about understanding potential side effects and managing them effectively. Regular monitoring of potassium levels can help catch Hypokalemia in its early stages in patients on these medications.(*)
