Food and medication
Potassium and medication
Some medicines make your body hold on to potassium. Too much can affect the heart, so very high-potassium foods and salt substitutes need care. Ordinary portions are usually fine unless you have been told otherwise.
9 medicines on our checker are affected, and for 1 the advice is to avoid it. Tap a medicine for every food and drink that matters with it.
Avoid potassium with these medicines
- Nicorandil
Salt substitutes can make the level of potassium in your blood too high when taking nicorandil.
Where this comes from
“Do not use salt substitutes (such as LoSalt) if you're taking nicorandil, as they can make the level of potassium in your blood too high.”
Information from the NHS website
Take care potassium with these medicines
- ACE inhibitors · ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril
ACE inhibitors raise potassium. Normal portions are usually fine; avoid salt substitutes and very large amounts.
- Enalapril
Enalapril can raise potassium, so skip potassium-containing salt substitutes unless your doctor agrees.
Where this comes from
“Patients should be told not to use salt substitutes containing potassium without consulting their physician.”
US FDA drug label - Eplerenone · Inspra
Eplerenone can raise potassium levels. Do not use salt substitutes and try to limit high-potassium foods.
Where this comes from
“Do not take any potassium supplements, including salt substitute tablets. Taking these with eplerenone can cause your potassium levels to become too high.”
Information from the NHS website - Irbesartan
Tell your doctor if you regularly eat salt alternatives containing potassium while taking irbesartan.
Where this comes from
“Tell your doctor if you regularly eat salt alternatives containing potassium (such as LoSalt) while taking irbesartan.”
Information from the NHS website - Losartan
Supplements and salt substitutes that contain potassium may not mix well with losartan.
Where this comes from
“supplements and salt substitutes (used to flavour food) that contain potassium”
Information from the NHS website - Spironolactone · aldactone, potassium-sparing diuretic
Spironolactone makes your body hold on to potassium. Normal portions are usually fine; avoid salt substitutes and very large amounts.
- Valsartan
Valsartan can raise potassium levels. Salt substitutes containing potassium may increase this further.
Where this comes from
“concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene, amiloride), potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium may lead to increases in serum potassium”
US FDA drug label
Fine potassium with these medicines
- Furosemide
Furosemide can lower potassium, so dietary measures or supplements may be needed to keep levels normal.
Where this comes from
“Potassium supplements and/or dietary measures may be needed to control or avoid hypokalemia.”
US FDA drug label
Foods and drinks that count as potassium
- Bananas
- Potatoes
- Chips
- Sweet potato
- Tomatoes
- Dried apricots
- Raisins
- Dates
- Dried figs
- Avocado
- Spinach
- Beans
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Coconut water
- Yoghurt
- Milk
- Salmon
- Mushrooms
- Melon
- Nuts
- Chocolate
- Beetroot
- Butternut squash
- Parsnips
- Kiwi fruit
- Orange juice
- Pomegranate juice
- Salt substitutes
- Potassium supplements
- Plantain
- Yam
- Fresh apricots
- Prune juice
- Tomato juice
- Black treacle
- Dried fruit
- Soya beans
- Pumpkin seeds
- Brussels sprouts
- Jerusalem artichoke
Common questions
- Which medicines does potassium affect?
- 9 medicines on our checker: Nicorandil (avoid), ACE inhibitors (take care), Enalapril (take care), Eplerenone (take care), Irbesartan (take care), Losartan (take care), Spironolactone (take care), Valsartan (take care), Furosemide (fine).
- Which foods count as potassium?
- Bananas, Potatoes, Chips, Sweet potato, Tomatoes, Dried apricots, Raisins, Dates, Dried figs, Avocado, Spinach, Beans, Lentils, Chickpeas, Coconut water, Yoghurt, Milk, Salmon, Mushrooms, Melon, Nuts, Chocolate, Beetroot, Butternut squash, Parsnips, Kiwi fruit, Orange juice, Pomegranate juice, Salt substitutes, Potassium supplements, Plantain, Yam, Fresh apricots, Prune juice, Tomato juice, Black treacle, Dried fruit, Soya beans, Pumpkin seeds, Brussels sprouts, Jerusalem artichoke.
General information from NHS medicine pages and drug labels, not medical advice. Always follow your prescriber, pharmacist or the leaflet with your medicine. How we check.