If you takemedication for osteoarthritis, then you know how truly helpful certain ones can be for relieving pain and other symptoms of this debilitating joint disease. But as with most drugs, those used for treating arthritis can have worrisome side effects.
Two in particular—corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)—have been associated with abnormal levels of potassium, a mineral that’s vital to health, especially the normal function of the heart. So if you’re on either medication for treating arthritis, here’s what you should know about how it may affect your potassium levels, why it matters, and ways you may be able to manage this side effect of arthritis medication.
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The Role of Potassium in the Body
Potassium is found in a variety of foods, including meat, some types of fish, certain fruits and vegetables, legumes (peas and beans that come in a shell, and peanuts), and dairy products, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It plays an important role in keeping all of the cells, tissues, and organs in the body working properly.
Potassium also is a key electrolyte: Along with sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium, potassium helps conduct electricity in the body, which in turn is important for the proper contraction of muscles. Since the heart is a muscle, it’s easy to see why proper amounts of potassium are important for cardiac health.
Arthritis Drugs and Potassium
For people with osteoarthritis, corticosteroids can reduce inflammation that causes joint pain, stiffness, and the breakdown of bone and cartilage. The steroids most often prescribed for arthritis include Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone), and prednisone (usually sold in generic form), according to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.
Researchshows that NSAIDs can cause a variety of problems with electrolyte levels. When it comes to potassium, these common medications maylead to a conditioncalledhyperkalemia, in which levels of the mineral become too high and lead to heart arrhythmias.
This risk may increase when NSAIDs are combined withblood pressure medication. Examples include ACE inhibitors such as captopril and enalapril (both sold only in generic form) and potassium-sparing diuretics such as Dyazide and Maxzide, both brand names for the generic medication triamterene.
1:50An Overview of Hyperkalemia
1:50
An Overview of Hyperkalemia
As long as your kidneys are functioning normally, you aren’t likely to haveproblems with elevated potassium levelswhile taking an NSAID for arthritis. Even so, your healthcare provider may want tocheck your potassiumafter you’ve been taking the drug for two or three weeks, or even sooner if you’re also taking an ACE inhibitor or diuretic.
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mayo Clinic.High Potassium (Hyperkalemia).MedlinePlus.Drugs, Herbs, and Supplements: Digoxin.Sejoong Kim, MD and Kwon Wook Joo, MD. “Electrolyte and Acid-Based Disturbances Associated With Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.“Electrolyte Blood Press, Dec 2007; 5(2): 116-125.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mayo Clinic.High Potassium (Hyperkalemia).MedlinePlus.Drugs, Herbs, and Supplements: Digoxin.Sejoong Kim, MD and Kwon Wook Joo, MD. “Electrolyte and Acid-Based Disturbances Associated With Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.“Electrolyte Blood Press, Dec 2007; 5(2): 116-125.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mayo Clinic.High Potassium (Hyperkalemia).MedlinePlus.Drugs, Herbs, and Supplements: Digoxin.Sejoong Kim, MD and Kwon Wook Joo, MD. “Electrolyte and Acid-Based Disturbances Associated With Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.“Electrolyte Blood Press, Dec 2007; 5(2): 116-125.
Mayo Clinic.High Potassium (Hyperkalemia).
MedlinePlus.Drugs, Herbs, and Supplements: Digoxin.
Sejoong Kim, MD and Kwon Wook Joo, MD. “Electrolyte and Acid-Based Disturbances Associated With Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.“Electrolyte Blood Press, Dec 2007; 5(2): 116-125.
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