mgraylorn

Glad to hear that exercise and better diet are lowering your bp! I'd say don't take potassium suppliments, or foods with extra potassium added (like potassium fortified milk or orange juice) unless your doctor prescribed them. I'd guess that unless all you eat are high potassium foods - and in great quantities, you probably can't get too much from your diet.

I lifted this from [url]www.wholehealthmd.com:[/url]
If You Get Too Much

Most people can safely absorb up to 18 g of potassium a day. In fact, potassium toxicity--a condition called hyperkalemia--is very unlikely to occur unless you take potassium supplements inappropriately or your kidneys don't function properly. That's because the kidneys carefully monitor the balance of potassium in the body and excrete any excess.

However, if your kidneys are malfunctioning for some reason and can't properly process and eliminate potassium as a result, you may develop toxic levels of potassium in your bloodstream by taking supplements. Signs of too much potassium in your body include muscle fatigue and an irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia).

General Dosage Information


For high blood pressure: Consume potassium-rich foods daily. Because of the risk of toxicity, however, don't take potassium in supplement form without professional supervision.

Guidelines for Use


To reduce the risk of stomach upset and nausea with potassium supplements that your doctor has prescribed, always take them with food.

General Interaction


Definitely avoid potassium supplements if you take drugs known as potassium-sparing diuretics (amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), beta-blockers, or an ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure or angina. Always consult a doctor under such circumstances, because combining any of these drugs with potassium can lead to hyperkalemia.

Because of the risk of various complications, consult your doctor before combining a digitalis drug (cardiac glycoside) with supplemental potassium.

Corticosteroids, loop diuretics (such as bumetanide and furosemide), and thiazide diuretics (including hydrochlorothiazide and indapamide) all can lower the level of potassium in the body. Potassium supplementation may be required but should always be undertaken with medical supervision.
Note: For information on interactions with specific generic drugs, see our WholeHealthMD Drug-Nutrient Interactions Chart.

Cautions


If you take a medication to control high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you have a kidney disorder, never take potassium supplements without medical supervision. Consuming potassium-rich foods is fine, however.