Higher Potassium Levels - 1248610

mk619
Posts:8

My sister-in-law went yesterday for blood work and scan in anticipation of her Friday treatment. She got a call last night that her potassium levels are high so they are repeating test today. They didn't say how high. What levels do they look for before changing treatment procotol? Is there anything she can do to help bring the levels down? She had an one prior test with a higher level about a year ago.

She's been on Avastin/Alimta for almost four years now. Is one drug more problematic than the other for kidney problems? She's stage iv nsclc but there is no sign of cancer. Thanks.

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Reply # - October 3, 2012, 01:17 PM

mk619
Posts: 8

They repeated the test and her potassium level is now fine, so that's good. A couple of questions (1) what are normal potassium levels? (2) how common is it for the level to fluctuate?

She is on BP medicine for the Avastin so I'm wondering if the timing of taking her medication might have affected the test?

Thanks

Reply # - October 3, 2012, 07:58 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

A normal potassium level of 3.5 to about 5.0. It does tend to fluctuate a bit over time, and some blood pressure medicines like diuretics can lead to a low level, but it would be uncommon for a blood pressure medicine to cause it to be high. It's not rare for the level to be artificially elevated because some of the blood cells break up from turbulent flow when the blood is drawn. Because of this, we very often re-check the level before acting on it, since it may well be a spurious finding that is found to be very normal when re-checked.

Avastin (bevacizumab) can lead to leakage of protein from the kidneys, but neither Avastin nor Alimta (pemetrexed) is known for being particularly damaging to the kidneys.

-Dr. West

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