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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Do Low Potassium Levels Cause Episodes Of Passing Out?

Hi...last week I had an episode that I woke up on the living room carpet. Didn t faint. I couldn t move my arms or legs. Next thing I knew I woke up on bathroom floor. Dr. sent me to ER. they said potassium was way too low 2.5 and said that is why I passed out. Now I see one of your drs said no chance low potassium would do that. Still taking pills and can t get me past 3.3.....your opinion? sorry, no money thanks anyway
Fri, 1 Mar 2019
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Sorry to hear about your problem. Yes, low potassium can definitely cause loss of powers in the whole body. However, it does not cause unconsciousness.

So if you were unconscious then its unlikely to be caused by the low potassium, but if you had only weakness and were not able to move, then for sure it was your low potassium; a condition what we call hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

To be honest, you should continue taking potassium, but the cause of low potassium should be sorted out as management depends on the cause.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Mahboob Ur Rahman , General & Family Physician
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Do Low Potassium Levels Cause Episodes Of Passing Out?

Hi, Sorry to hear about your problem. Yes, low potassium can definitely cause loss of powers in the whole body. However, it does not cause unconsciousness. So if you were unconscious then its unlikely to be caused by the low potassium, but if you had only weakness and were not able to move, then for sure it was your low potassium; a condition what we call hypokalemic periodic paralysis. To be honest, you should continue taking potassium, but the cause of low potassium should be sorted out as management depends on the cause. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Mahboob Ur Rahman , General & Family Physician