Don't Rely on Potassium from Foods to Treat Hypokalemia

September 2014

Now that chlorthalidone is being used more for hypertension, questions are coming up about how to manage hypokalemia due to thiazides.

Chlorthalidone has a reputation for frequently causing hypokalemia...serum potassium level ≤ 3.5 mEq/L.

But don't let this fear keep you from using chlorthalidone...especially for resistant hypertension. It lowers BP more than hydrochlorothiazide...and has more evidence of reducing CV events.

Get concise, unbiased advice for effective drug therapy, plus CE/CME

Prescriber's Letter includes:

12 issues every year, with brief articles about new meds and guidelines
48+ CE courses, including the popular CE-in-the-Letter
Quick reference drug comparison charts
Access to the entire archive

Subscribe Today!

Already a subscriber? Log in

Volume pricing available. Get a quote

Cardiology Save Niacin for Special Situations
Statins Point Out Statins' CV Benefits STILL Outweigh Diabetes Risk
Vaccines Give Intranasal FluMist to Young, Healthy Children
Depression Use Low Antipsychotic Doses When Adding to an Antidepressant
Smoking Cessation Save Combos with Chantix for When Other Options Don't Work
E-Prescriptions Send E-Rxs at the End of Each Patient Visit
Diuretics Don't Rely on Potassium from Foods to Treat Hypokalemia
Infectious Diseases Warn About the High Cost of Some Cold Sore Treatments
Oral Health Explain Electric Toothbrushes Can Reduce Plaque More Than Manual Brushes
Antithrombotics Don't Use the New Oral Antiplatelet Drug Zontivity Alone
ADHD Don't Do an ECG Before Beginning Stimulant in Most Kids
Med Administration Dilute Liquid Meds Before Enteral Tube Administration
Opioids DEA's switch of all hydrocodone COMBOS (Vicodin, Tussionex, etc) from Schedule III to Schedule II on October 6 will cause confusion

Don't Rely on Potassium from Foods to Treat Hypokalemia

Get concise, unbiased advice for effective drug therapy, plus CE/CME

Table of Contents