Potassium tablets????

sandymayhew2014

Does anyone take potassium tablets? I know I don't eat enough bananas and some nights I get horrible cramps in my legs. I bought some but have not used them yet> Would like opinions on it, thanks.

20yearsyounger

I don't think they give you enough potassium. I believe they are limited to under 4%. My go to items include orange juice, potatoes (baked, fries, chips), yogurt, apples, red wine, ....do a search for other items high in potassium.

rosebette

I have been taking a potassium tablet in addition to my multivitamin. I have also added bananas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes back into my diet, all foods I was avoiding because they are higher carb and calorie. If I don't eat any of those foods, I take an additional tab at night. The OTC potassium is as other posters have said, under 4%,so you can take more than one a day. However, they are kind of chalky and nasty to take, so I seldom take more than two a day.

ajravanos

i had the same problem - not enough potassium, charlie horses in the middle of the night. i started taking a potassium tablet, added to my daily intake of 3 different supplements/multi-vitamin, & no more leg cramps for me

Kalikel

Check with your doctor before you start taking potassium. If you get too much, it can become an issue. Potassium pills are huge and most who have to take them complain about them a lot. I haven't seen the OTC ones. Maybe they're smaller.

There are many foods higher in potassium than our friend, the banana. A quick google search will help.

Potassium isn't like Vitamin C, where if you take too much of it your body will just pee it out with no harm done. It can cause you too have too much potassium, which is called "hyperkalemia" (hyper - excessive, ka - potassium [kalium, K], emia - in the blood). At least google "hyperkalemia" before you begin swallowing potassium.

cheekychocolate

Kalikel wrote: »

Check with your doctor before you start taking potassium. If you get too much, it can become an issue. Potassium pills are huge and most who have to take them complain about them a lot. I haven't seen the OTC ones. Maybe they're smaller.

There are many foods higher in potassium than our friend, the banana. A quick google search will help.

Totally agree with this. Supplementing indiscriminately can cause some scary side effects so tread carefully.

themedalist

Much better to get potassium from foods than pills. Fruits and vegetables, salmon and milk and yogurt are all very good potassium sources.

1stplace4health

I think they're great. I take them everyday. They haven't helped that much with my foot cramping but since I started walking more...my cramps have lessened.

justalittlecrazy

I do take potassium, 2 tablets of 3% per day, each. You need to be very careful with it as too much potassium can a killer, honestly. I have always had horrible leg cramps. I get them in my calves, outside and inside of my thighs at the same time. Not a lot of fun, I can tell you. I take a blood pressure med that lowers potassium, too.

Are you sure that potassium is your issue? Probably even bigger than potassium in leg cramps is simple dehydration. Before going to extra potassium, I would greatly increase the amount of water you are drinking. Staying well hydrated has helped me a lot more than potassium. Since it curbs hunger, too, its a win-win situation.

MelRC117

There is also a product called "Nu Salt" which is potassium chloride that a lot of low carb eaters use. You use it just like salt.