Electrolytes supplements

[trixie100]

Does anyone take electrolyte drinks or pills daily? If so , which are the best.

[BobD Volunteer]

Water and a good varied diet.

[Desanthony]

I would check with your GP or pharmacist first to make sure that it is OK for you to take these everyday. When I need them I take dioralyte sachets in water you can get a citrus or blackcurrant tasting type, but maybe you should also check that out with your GP or pharmacist too if you are going to be taking them everyday.

[jeanjeannie50]

I drink coconut water it provides a source of natural electrolytes.

[HiloHairy]

Don't most electrolyte supplements have a sodium component? At least for me, sodium is a key trigger for afib events.

[meeko45 in reply to HiloHairy]

I find the balance is what I need. Salt alone bad but with other electrolytes better than good.

[Jajarunner]

I use water, water with squash (for sugar) and salt plus High Five Zero tablets which are sugar free and come in lots of flavours. Shop around as prices vary wildly!Plain water is okay but not absorbed as quickly as drinks with electrolytes (ie the tablets or water with sugar and salt). This is particularly important if you have become a bit dehydrated already.

Oh and herbal or fruit teas are good too. I aim for 2.5 litres in total per day.

Don't increase your normal amount too quickly as you'll be in the loo all day. Xx

[meeko45]

Sis go pro tablets. One every morning and another if I've been sweating in the summer.

[beach_bum]

Specifically what purpose? Working out? Extreme hot weather? Electrolyte loss due to sweating profusely, can be replaced with drinks such as Gatorade, GU etc, but for most it is not necessary unless you are an elite athelite. There are many unwanted risks side effects from taking in too many electrolytes during training, games, runs etc. (Google it, it's lengthy) and especially risky for AFIB. Many afib meds already raised potassium levels..

livingwithatrialfibrillatio...

Drugs that raise potassium levels include:

ARB drugs (Losartan, Telmisartan, Valsartan, Ibesartan)

ACE inhibitors (Lisinopril, Enalapril, Quinapril)

Any combination pill including ACE inhibitors, ARBs and HCTZs together

Aldactone drugs (Spironolactone)

Over-the-counter NSAIDs such as Motrin, Advil, and Aleve

Cyclosporine/Prograf

The blood thinner Heparin

Digoxin

Fluoride

Azole antifungals

Amilorides (Midalnor, Dyrenium )

Beta Blockers (Propranolol, Labetalol, Atenolol)

Sources:

GoodRX.com

Livestrong.com

AAFP.org

If you’re taking these drugs you must watch your potassium levels closely, especially if you are considering potassium supplements of any kind or are already taking them! Combining any of these drugs with supplements could potentially be fatal. Dietary changes may ultimately offer a better solution for anyone taking any of these drugs.

Managing Potassium Levels Through Diet

It probably won’t come as much of a surprise to learn that the bulk of the foods of the Standard American Diet lowers potassium levels. These acidic foods that deplete potassium levels include:

Meats

Sodas

Wheat

Cheese

Other processed, sugary foods

Some of these foods offer benefits in their own right, particularly meat protein, but most of us tend to eat these foods excessively while avoiding fruits and vegetables that help replenish potassium levels.

To complicate things, some of the fruits and vegetables that have high levels of potassium, such as bananas and potatoes, are high glycemic foods. What is an afibber to do? I encourage people with afib to strive to at least moderate their diet or follow one of the recommended diets for atrial fibrillation.

Another challenge when trying to manage potassium levels through diet is that the standard meal servings of fruits and vegetables may be insufficient to keep potassium levels up. You will have to eat a lot of whole fruit and vegetables in a day to maintain proper potassium levels (and probably more than you can feasibly consume in a day).

One way to get a high concentration of potassium from fruits and vegetables without gorging yourself is to drink fruit and vegetable smoothies, low-sodium V8, and organic vegetable juice. These are all options that can help you pack large doses of potassium-rich foods into your diet without forcing you to pile more food on your plate than you can handle.

For your reference, here are the top 10 potassium-rich foods:

Avocado (1 whole) – 1,076mg

Acorn squash (1 cup) – 896mg

Spinach (1 cup cooked) – 839mg

Sweet potato (1 large) – 855mg

Wild-caught salmon (1/2 fillet) – 772mg

Dried apricots (1/2 cup) – 756mg

Pomegranate (1 whole) – 667mg

Coconut water (1 cup) – 600mg

White beans (1/2 cup) – 502mg

Bananas (1 large) – 487mg

Source: DrAxe.com

Low-sodium V8 isn’t on that list but it could be as it packs a whopping 1,018mg of potassium in just 8 ounces! However, tread lightly with it because it contains potassium in the form of potassium chloride which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort (see below). Incorporating low-sodium V8 or any of the foods listed above in your diet can go a long way towards increasing your potassium levels.

So, always consult your medical professionals before supplimenting.

I cycle...a lot...as in 25-40km a day during the summer, and used to drink a lot of electrolyte replacement drinks, and they did not go well with my system...or afib, so read read read, consult.

[belindalore in reply to beach_bum]

How much potassium does a man or woman need daily? From what I've read up to 4700 mg per day. Is that what you have found in your research? I did not know certain foods could deplete potassium. Thanks for the info. Have a safe day.