Heart Failure Treatment With Potassium and Magnesium Supplements
Potassium and magnesium are important in controlling blood pressure. They are often prescribed to heart patients taking diuretics, or ''water pills.'' They replace fluids lost through increased urination caused by diuretics.
Potassium supplements include:
Living With Advanced Heart Failure
There’s no cure for congestive heart failure -- not yet anyway. But if you or a loved one is among the 5.8 million Americans living with heart failure, even if it’s advanced, you should know that simple self-care measures can effectively help curb fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, and other symptoms.In addition to improving their quality of life, heart failure patients who practice good self-care are less likely to wind up in the hospital.“Heart failure is a progressive disease, but the...
Read the Living With Advanced Heart Failure article > >
Magnesium supplements include:
Take potassium and magnesium supplements right after meals or with food. Follow the label directions on how often to take it. The number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and how long you need to take it will depend on the type of medication prescribed, as well as your condition.
Possible side effects of potassium and magnesium supplements include:
If you are taking magnesium or potassium supplements, let your doctor know if:
Potassium supplements include:
Recommended Related to Heart Failure
Living With Advanced Heart Failure
There’s no cure for congestive heart failure -- not yet anyway. But if you or a loved one is among the 5.8 million Americans living with heart failure, even if it’s advanced, you should know that simple self-care measures can effectively help curb fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, and other symptoms.In addition to improving their quality of life, heart failure patients who practice good self-care are less likely to wind up in the hospital.“Heart failure is a progressive disease, but the...
Read the Living With Advanced Heart Failure article > >
Magnesium supplements include:
- Mag-Ox
- Uro-Mag
- Magnesium glycinate
How Do I Take Potassium and Magnesium Supplements?
Take potassium and magnesium supplements right after meals or with food. Follow the label directions on how often to take it. The number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and how long you need to take it will depend on the type of medication prescribed, as well as your condition.
What Are the Side Effects of Potassium and Magnesium Supplements?
Possible side effects of potassium and magnesium supplements include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.; take the medication with food or right after meals with a full glass of water. If these side effects continue, contact your doctor. If you take controlled-release tablets or capsules and experience severe vomiting or vomit blood and abdominal pain or swelling, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor right away.
- Black, tarry, or bloody stools (signs of stomach bleeding); contact your doctor right away.
- Confusion; irregular or slow heartbeat; numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips; shortness of breath or difficult breathing; unexplained anxiety; unusual tiredness, or weakness. Contact your doctor right away.
Should I Avoid Certain Foods or Drugs While Taking Potassium and Magnesium?
If you are taking magnesium or potassium supplements, let your doctor know if:
- You are using a salt substitute; many salt substitutes contain potassium.
- You are using ACE inhibitors or certain diuretics
- You have a kidney disorder
- You are taking any supplements
Other Guidelines for Taking Potassium and Magnesium
- While taking potassium or magnesium, have your blood pressure checked regularly, as advised by your doctor.
- Keep all appointments with your doctor and the lab so that your response to the drug can be monitored.