Diovan and high potassium

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: May 11 2009

Q: I was on the lowest dose of Diovan for years with excellent results. After a routine blood test, my doctor called and said my potassium rate was too high and she blamed the Diovan. She switched me to Cartia XT and my blood pressure has been in the 150 to 180 range ever since even with a doubling of the dose and now an additional beta blocker at night. Is it dangerous to go back to Diovan? What is the potassium danger and why would it happen so suddenly after years?

A: High potassium levels can lead to potentially fatal irregular heartbeats. High levels of potassium can be the result of many things. As we age our kidneys don’t function as well so a diet high in potassium rich foods could have caused your level to increase. You should discuss this further with your doctor and ask about restarting Diovan.

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