High potassium level

Definition

High potassium level is a problem in which the amount of potassium in the blood is higher than normal. The medical name of this condition is hyperkalemia.

Alternative Names

Hyperkalemia; Potassium - high; High blood potassium

Causes

Potassium is needed for cells to function properly. You get potassium through food. Your kidneys remove excess potassium through the urine to keep a proper balance of this mineral in your body.

If your kidneys are not working well, they may not be able to remove the proper amount of potassium. As a result, potassium can build up in the blood. This buildup can also be due to:

Symptoms

There are often no symptoms with a high level of potassium. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms.

Tests that may be ordered include:

Your provider will likely check your blood potassium level and do kidney blood tests on a regular basis if you:

Treatment

You will need emergency treatment if your potassium level is very high, or if you have danger signs, such as changes in your ECG.

Emergency treatment may include:

Changes in your diet can help both prevent and treat high potassium levels. You may be asked to:

Your provider may make the following changes to your medicines:

Follow your provider's directions when taking your medicines:

Outlook (Prognosis)

If the cause is known, such as too much potassium in the diet, the outlook is good once the problem is corrected. In severe cases or those with ongoing risk factors, high potassium will likely recur.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider right away if you have vomiting, palpitations, weakness, or difficulty breathing, or if you're taking a potassium supplement and have symptoms of high potassium.

References

Mount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.

Seifter JL. Potassium disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 103.



Review Date: 11/19/2023
Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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