Low Potassium Causes

Low potassium can occur for many reasons. Use of water pills (diuretics), diarrhea, and chronic laxative abuse are the most common causes of low potassium.

Illness and other medications may also lower potassium levels. Other causes include:

Kidney losses

• Certain kidney disorders such as renal tubular acidosis (for example, chronic kidney failure and acute kidney failure)
  
  
• Magnesium deficiency
  
  
• Leukemia

Loss of potassium through stomach and intestines

• Vomiting
  
  
• Enemas or excessive laxative use
  
  
• Diarrhea
  
  
• After ileostomy operation

Effect of medicines

• Water pills (diuretics)
  
  
• Medicines used for asthma or emphysema (beta-adrenergic agonist type of drugs such as bronchodilators, steroids, or theophylline)
  
  
• Aminoglycosides (a type of antibiotic used for treating certain serious infections)

Shifting of potassium across cells can lower the concentration of potassium measured in the blood.

• Use of insulin
  
  
• Certain metabolic states (such as alkalosis)

Decreased food intake or malnutrition

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - How Was Diagnosis Established

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

How was the diagnosis of your low potassium (hypokalemia) established?

Comment submissions for this question have ended.
See 23 Viewer Comments & Reviews

View Comments