Listed below are some drugs that may cause hypokalaemia (serum potassium concentration below 3.5 mmol/L)
- Laxatives and enemas (excessive use)
- Loop diuretics: furosemide, bumetanide and torasemide
- Thiazide diuretics and thiazide-like diuretics e.g. bendroflumethiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, chlortalidone, metolozone, xipamide
- Beta 2 agonists e.g. salbutamol, terbutaline, salmeterol, formoterol, indacterol, olodaterol
- Xanthines: aminophylline and theophylline
- High dose penicillin
- Gentamicin
- Amphotericin B
- Echinocandin antifungals: caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin
- High dose insulin
- Corticosteroids e.g. beclometasone, betamethasone, budesonide, deflazacort, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone
- Cisplatin
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Parecoxib
- Verapamil (in overdose)