Indapamide issues
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi. I have been using indapamide for blood pressure for years. I am not feeling great at the moment (I do have an auto immune disorder but have been in remission). I have been losing a lot of hair. I have discovered that I am borderline low on potassium and zinc and vitamin d. Selenium hasn't been checked or hasn't been flagged up to me as problematic. I discovered that using indapamide long term can deplete potassium selenium and zinc. Wondered if anyone else had problems with this medication. Thanks
0 likes, 12 replies
mike92384 margaret22116
Posted
margaret22116...As you might already know, Idapamide is a diuretic, & I will say that anything I've read about it, or spoken to about it with a Pharmacist..all say it's a good quality diuretic.
As with all diuretics, there's a risk of potassium levels going down. You stated that you are borderline low on potassium. Perhaps you need to increase foods rich in potassium or take a potassium supplement. Also, your zinc & Vitamin D levels are borderline. How do you know this? Have you had a blood test which tells you that the potassium, zinc & Vitamin D levels are borderline???
I do not recommend that people go out & buy the things without consulting their doctor. Potassium isn't something that anyone should just start taking. You or anyone else unless a Dr. are not qualified to determine just how much. Here in Canada, anyone going into a Pharmacy & purchasing Potassium will be questioned by the Pharmacist. This isn't to say that the Pharmacist will prevent the person from buying the Potassium, but it's for the patient's own safety..amount., fequency, etc.etc. Borderline Vitamin D levels or low levels for that matter are very common in countries where there's not much sunshine year-round. This is very true for us here in Canada.
Please don't just blame the Idapaminde. As I've stated, the levels of potassium Vitamin D., and/or zinc could be your culprits., but by all means consult your doctor.
margaret22116 mike92384
Posted
hi, yes blood test results have shown this and I was told by my specialist in dermatology that it is 'borderline' low at 3.1. I am not taking potassium supplements at all but am eating a banana daily to try to increase it. Zinc was borderline in a blood test and my doctor said she would not be adverse to me taking a supplement she had prescribed me before for low zinc levels. Vit d was likewise borderline and again she said I could supplement but it was not at a level they would prescribe for.
I am not 'blaming' indapamide but trying to explore reasons why I am having all of these drops in vitamins and minerals. Apparently diuretics can be a culprit. I am going to see my doctor to discuss in more depth but was once advised by a rheumatologist not to take diuretics any more as I had been on them for a long time.
mike92384 margaret22116
Posted
margaret22116...glad you got the info from a doctor. As for the Vitamin D., most doctors do not prescribe for it., but rather advise a patient to start taking the vitamin supplement, say around 1000 i/u daily., then if necessary, that amount an be upped.
For sure 3.1 potassium is borderline...Im thinking it should be at about 3.4..but you can get that up by eating bananas.
Please let us know how you get on with this.Best of luck!
margaret22116 mike92384
Posted
Hi thanks for your input. I am trying to progress sensibly as you say. Just trying to increase everything slightly to a better level to see if it helps .
mike92384 margaret22116
Posted
margaret22116...What I also forgot to mention, & you may already know this, but green peas also are rich in potassium. They don't have to be peas on the pod, just your ordinary green pea. Certain fruits besides bananas a good too, such as kiwi, cantaloupe, apricots & cherries. Orange juice is another.
One cup of good ol' fashioned plain yogurt is great also.
I hope I have been of some help to you.
margaret22116 mike92384
Posted
Yes helpful for sure. Didn't realise that about peas etc. I love fruit in general so eating cherries, kiwi etc will be a great way for me to increase my potassium! ☺
MrsO-UK_Surrey margaret22116
Posted
Margaret, I took Indapamide for a short period and incidentally was also experiencing an autoimmune illness (PMR and GCA). The reason the Indapamide was short-lived was that I became very fatigued to the point of finding it difficult to put one foot in front of the other. Blood tests revealed that Indapamide had severely reduced my sodium levels. Could that be a possible reason for you feeling unwell, OR could the AI be rearing its ugly head?
margaret22116 MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
hi, checked the results and sodium looks fine. Iron looks a bit low but I am not completely sure of that . It is given as 3.94 x 10>12
MrsO-UK_Surrey margaret22116
Posted
If iron is "a bit low", ask for your B12 to be checked as a deficiency in B12 can lead to anaemia. But, as I said, do also check that the autoimmune issue is not rearing its ugly head - CRP and ESR tests may help there.
margaret22116 MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
hi, yes crp and esr are normal at the moment. I have had issues with B12 in the past and it is something we've not quite resolved yet. I continually come up as low in this too with increased mean cell volume. I have been treated in the past for it but without a firm diagnosis of perncious anemia. I am a bit of a puzzle at times I'm afraid. Lots going on and my feeling ai disease is not responsible for my current issues to be honest. At height of illness I had mainly neuro symptoms. I have managed to get that under control with good treatment. So not like my previous ai issues really. I am going to see my doc to discuss all of this but often find people on here are knowledgeable and can raise interesting thoughts or have had similar problems in the past.
margaret22116
Posted
Hi yes these are the thoughts I am having. Not sure if sodium was tested. I will check. But yes ai issues could very well be involved. X
jx41870 margaret22116
Posted
Hi Margaret, just want to second most of what Mike said, all diuretics can run you low on potassium and other electrolytes, but I don't think it is usually to blame for vitamin D.
However in general potassium can be fixed by diet, of course your banana is famous for high potassium, but so are lots of other foods, especially fresh vegetables.
I'm not against going to the drug store for a selenium supplement, I took one for years, though I've since stopped.
And vitamin D is one of the most popular now, and it's common to universal for people over a certain age (40? 50?) to take 1000 to 5000 units. I was getting a fair amount of sun, and taking 2000 units - and still came up a bit low. And it may be that getting somewhere above just the minimum level is a good idea - especially if you have an autoimmune (which I have, too).
Of course you can try to fix the selenium and vitamin D with just diet as well but they are both a little tough to do with just diet - and very easy to do with common supplements.
Should you stay on diuretics a long time? Well, that's another discussion. I gather your BP numbers are good, at least, while on the diuretic? You could try without, or try a different class of drug, probably the ACE/ARB drugs.