Potassium and magnesium

[Gareth57]

Just wondering, has anyone found any benefit from taking magnesium and potassium supplements? I started to try and ease cramp in my legs and feet thinking it was a side effect of fostair, but my lungs feel better as well?

This is an observation not advocating a miracle cure 😁

[twinkly29]

Potassium supplements probably would have to be prescribed because levels have to be closely monitored as high potassium is really dangerous. But maybe try eating high potassium foods (baked potatoes, peanut butter, dark chocolate, dried fruit, bananas, yogurt, salmon....) and see if that helps?

I know some people find magnesium supplements helpful but I don't have any personal experience of those.

[Gareth57 in reply to twinkly29]

Potassium is freely available and I am not talking about taking huge amounts, all told about 30% rda , but combined they have significantly reduced the amount of steroid and antibiotics (both of which are not good in large amounts) this winter. As said before I am not advocating this as a cure but was interested to know if anyone else had experienced similar improvement

[twinkly29 in reply to Gareth57]

Apologies I misread your post and didn't realise you were already taking them. Hopefully others can give you the answer you're looking for.

[selyab]

I take magnesium tablets ,one daily and have had no leg cramps through the night since taking them

[Minushabens]

Are you taking a lot of steroid medication? I get very bad cramps which I think are a result of that & take (prescribed) calcium supplements to try & help. I still get the cramps but they have eased off somewhat in recent times.

[Poobah]

That sounds really interesting. How long were you taking the supplements before you noticed an improvement?

And what type of asthma do you have?

I'll try anything to help my breathing.

Thanks for sharing.

[Gareth57 in reply to Poobah]

It would have been at least a couple of months and then had a really busy spell during which I realised I’d missed quite a few inhalers, but my asthma is probably moderate. Other comments are warning about potassium though.

[Philgn]

I am finding, after being told by a paramedic that there is no fresh air, that wearing an industrial face mask for an hour a day has improved my asthma/ copd wheezing more than any potions I have ever tried, bar Ventolin.

[Hidden]

Please check with your doctor. Too much potassium is actually dangerous. A couple of times I’ve been in or near respiratory failure. That’s how bad it had to be before they would give me magnesium, and it was always intravenously. They told me they only use it when the patient is being admitted to ICU where I’ll be monitored closely.

The hospitals use these with careful observation. I don’t think they are things you should try to use on your own.

Your doctor will want to determine the cause of your muscle cramps. Don’t use quinine. Doctors have stopped using it because there’s a very short difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose.

Too much potassium can cas fatal heart rhythms.

[Matman]

I increased my dietary potassium because Fostair depletes it, as it states on the Fostair Patient Information Leaflet.

Also take Magnesium Citrate at Bedtime.

[Marydoll589]

I take both. Inhalers and their contents deplete potassium in the body I read . So I take daily. Can’t say as I’ve noticed any improvement in my lungs taking them sadly. Magnesium I take for my weak bones caused by the inhaled steroids!