Besremi and high potassium

[Eferret]

When I went in to have my metabolic panel at the hematology clinic, my potassium was too high. My diet includes about 20% of the daily requirement of potassium. The doctor told me to eliminate the high potassium items in my diet. My GP said the same thing. So I looked at the trend line for my potassium. It went up almost vertically after I increased my Besremi to 100mcg.I am taking Amlodipine for my blood pressure and I think there is a drug interaction there, confirmed by drugs.com. I am hoping my GP will let me try a different blood pressure drug like Lisinopril.

[ainslie]

be careful about false high Potassium readings with MPN, I have heard many times about patients getting calls from their docs because potassium is sky high on labs, it can be false, something to do with how the nurse handles the tubes or does the blood draw if I recall correctly, it’s been discussed on here a few times, you could search.

Your Potassium may in reality be high but best to be sure of that before changing too much of your diet etc.

[kamiilos]

Out of blue I had once Potassium level at 5.8 mmol/L and haem recommended to repeat test. A week after it came in range at about 4.2. Perhaps it was due to nurse handling the tube as I ate same diet.

Best to repeat the tests to be sure.

All the best

[Dan73]

If my memory is correct, I believe I had high potassium one time 3 or 4years ago. The lab report said there was hemolysis and the hematologist said that caused a high potassium reading. I believe that is caused by less than optimal conditions on the way to the lab. I never had the problem again.

[Eferret]

I really don't think this is a "one-off" thing.

My potassium readings were:

11/27/2024 4.5

2/18/2025 4.2 Increased to 100mcg Besremi

3/5/2025 4.4

3/19/2025 5.0

4/16/2025 5.3

I will get a test next Friday and see if it has improved.

My gp told me that for some people amlodipine can have an effect on potassium levels.

PharmaEssentia doesn't have much information about drug interactions on their website

so I left a message with them to see if they have any reports of this.