Potassium, Urine

Having too much potassium in your body is called hyperkalemia. It can cause:

– nausea
– fatigue
– muscle weakness
– abnormal heart rhythms

Hyperkalemia is most likely caused by acute kidney failure or chronic kidney disease.

Other causes of high potassium levels in urine include:

– acute tubular necrosis
– eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia
– other kidney diseases
– low blood magnesium levels, called hypomagnesaemia
– lupus
– medicines
– renal tubular acidosis
– excessive use of diuretics or potassium supplements
– type 1 diabetes
– alcoholism or heavy drug use
– Addison’s disease

Too little potassium in your body is called hypokalemia. A severe loss or drop in potassium can cause:

– weakness
– fatigue
– muscle cramps or spasms
– constipation

A low level of potassium in your urine may be caused by:

– adrenal gland insufficiency
– eating disorders, such as bulimia
– excessive sweating
– excessive laxative use
– magnesium deficiency
– certain medicines
– excessive vomiting or diarrhea
– excessive alcohol use
– folic acid deficiency
– diabetic ketoacidosis
– chronic kidney disease

Potassium is an electrolyte that helps your cells and organs work. Your body needs it to digest food, keep your heart beating right, and various other activities. You get most of your potassium from foods. Your body uses what it needs, and your kidneys put the rest into your urine as waste.