Spironolactone, Tea and Coffee

[Robin.C]

So this may well be an odd question.

Here goes anyway.

Spiro as we all know can cause a build up of potassium in the body.

Since tea, coffee and milk have a reasonable amount of potassium in them; has anyone got a vague idea of how many cups a day is okay and won't push into the dreaded K thing.

I know if matters about the rest of my diet.

Just curious if any experiences from these wonderful beverages.

 

Hugs

Robin

[Kathy2020]

Hi Robin! What does your endocrinologist say? I asked my doctor a similar question before starting, and she recommended not changing my diet until we got a couple cycles of lab results back. She said every person has a different reaction, and of course reactions can also be impacted by the dosage. She said that is why they do the blood work every month until things look "balanced" and then keep at it but less frequently afterward. She said if a change of diet was necessary, she would let me know what to add or drop specifically. I am also under strict instructions to tell her if I dramatically change my diet on my own (like going vegan)! If she keeps this up, I might start calling her "mom" pretty soon! Hope that helps! 

[MirandaB]

I worried about all that stuff out loud to the doc early on and she said something like what @Kathy2020's said.

 

[Robin.C]

Thank you. It's what I was told, though some days I drink way too many cups and wondered if it would be a problem. You know coz I need to stress about something else during transition ?

 

Hugs

Robin

[KathyLauren]

My doctor told me the same thing.  As long as I didn't do something stupid like eating 12 bananas for breakfast, she would just monitor my blood levels and make adjustments as required.  None were necessary.

 

With drinking a lot of tea and coffee, what you may need to be more conscious of is hydration.  Tea and Coffee are both diuretics, and spiro is a really powerful diuretic.  Keep your fluids up.  I drank a glass of water every hour while I was on spiro.

[Charlize]

1 hour ago, KathyLauren said:

With drinking a lot of tea and coffee, what you may need to be more conscious of is hydration

This is very true.  Please do make sure you drink a lot of water as otherwise dehydration can follow just as it can when we take in too much alcohol.   I looked up all the potassium loaded foods and for a time tried to avoid them but soon found that wasn't an issue.  If you find you start to have cramps that shows you might have a problem.  I had a few in my calves and upped my fluid intake a bit which seemed to help.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Ivy]

15 hours ago, Kathy2020 said:

She said that is why they do the blood work every month until things look "balanced" and then keep at it but less frequently afterward.

Yeah, this is important.  

I have problems with Spiro, and can't take it.  But my problem is sodium levels.  Even drinking gatorade didn't help.

[Robin.C]

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom.

As a cyclist, recreational now; formerly Track, Cyclocross, Road and Time Trial I have always watched my hydration.

After battling a bit of depression due to not being able to train enough due to lockdowns I had put on a few kilos which I have finally begun to get rid of and get back to a more happy state of mind and weight ?

It's the little insights that help @Charlize, @KathyLauren, @Kathy2020.

 

Hugs

Robin

[Vini]

My reaction to XXmg Spiro after a month was low sodium, hyponatremia that landed me in the Hospital for four days.  It takes time to build your sodium back up on IVs and salt pills.  I thought I had Covid but when I told them all my meds, one Doc said he prescribed hrt to "guys like you" and you cant take that much Aldactone/ Spiro.  Thank goodness my Endo kept me on hrt and XXmg Spiro and salt pills.  I am so happy to be transitioning and its effects.  If anyone has any questions feel free to ask : ) Vini    PS:  Thanks to @Jandi I wasnt completely surprised, having read her reply above.

Edited November 30, 2021 by Jani
Dosage amounts not allowed.