Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of hypokalemia (potassium deficiency).
Family history
- Are there any conditions in your family that are common?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Do you suffer from:
- Muscle weakness or cramps?*
- Abnormal sensations?
- Paralysis?*
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)?
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Z. E.g., extrasystoles/extra heartbeats?* .
- Too fast heartbeat (> 100 beats per minute)?*
- Nausea (nausea)?
- Constipation (constipation)?
- Have you had frequent diarrhea recently?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you suffer from loss of appetite?
- How much fluid do you drink per day?
- What volume of urine do you excrete?
- Has your appetite changed?
- Do you eat licorice?
- Do you like to drink coffee, black or green tea? If so, how many cups per day?
- Do you drink other or additional caffeinated beverages? If so, how much of each?
- Do you drink alcohol? If so, what drink(s) and how many glasses of each per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (gastrointestinal disorders; eating disorders; Conn syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism) or secondary hyperaldosteronism / increased formation of aldosterone).
- Surgeries (enteric fistulas)
- Allergies
Medication history
- Antibiotics
- Aminoglycosides (amikacin, apramycin, geneticin (G418), gentamicins, kanamycin, netilmicin, neomycin, paromomycin, spectinomycin, streptomycin, tobramycin), penicillins.
- Antifungal (amphotericin B).
- Arsenic trioxide
- Betamimetics (synonyms: β2-sympathomimetics, also β2-adrenoceptor agonists) – fenoterol, formoterol, hexoprenaline, indaceterol, olodaterol, ritodrine, salbutamol, salmeterol, terbutaline
- Carboanhydrase inhibitors (acetazolamide).
- Calcium sensitizer (levosimendan).
- Diuretics
- Loop diuretics (etacrynic acid, furosemide, piretanide, torasemide).
- Thiazide diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), benzthiazide, clopamide, chlortalidone (CTDN), chlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, indapamide, methyclothiazide, metolazone, polythiazide and trichloromethiazide, xipamide).
- Bulking/swelling agents (psyllium, flaxseed) [for prolonged use].
- HCV inhibitors – telaprevir
- Hormones
- Glucocorticoids (betamethasone, budenoside, cortisone, fluticasone, dexmeathasone, prednisolone, triamcinolone).
- Insulin
- Hydragoge laxatives (bisacodyl, sodium picosulfate).
- MTOR inhibitors (everolimus, temsirolimus).
- Osmotic-acting laxatives (lactulose, polyethylene glycols/PEG, macrogol).
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)
