General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
A salt substitute can supply potassium. Choosing one to reduce ordinary salt also calls for checking your medicines: the cited PERINDOPRIL SANDOZ 4 mg leaflet specifically warns about substitutes containing potassium.
Perindopril can increase blood potassium. For this presentation, the leaflet says not to take potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes with the treatment. The food label and prescribed product therefore need to be examined together.
Spironolactone is another example. The cited ALDACTONE 25 mg leaflet warns that combining it with certain medicines or sources of potassium can cause severe hyperkalaemia, meaning too much potassium in the blood. The risk depends on all the products being used.
Monitoring involves more than choosing salt. The ALDACTONE leaflet provides for blood potassium and sodium tests and kidney function checks. The doctor defines this follow-up; ask which tests are planned and when to have them for your prescription.
Excess potassium may be found without symptoms: the ALDACTONE product information reports many cases of asymptomatic hyperkalaemia. Feeling well therefore does not replace a prescribed test or confirm that a new salt substitute is compatible.
To have the situation checked, show the substitute’s packaging and a complete list of medicines and supplements used. Clarify the relevant sources of potassium and planned follow-up with the pharmacist and prescriber. These warnings do not establish a low-potassium diet for everyone or authorise changing treatment yourself.
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