Ramipril raising potassium and affecting kidneys

I am on it too, and recently had my dose increased so will have a blood test next week to check kidneys. No answers, just similarly worried. I find it very difficult to drink enough water though I am trying hard.

Cut down on eating bananas🍌

25Avalon

Dh has serious heart failure and is on Bisoprolol and Spironolactone. Although he was near the top of the permitted potassium levels he was put on Ramipril about 2 months ago. They were talking about increasing it but now blood tests show raised potassium levels affecting kidney function and he has been told to stop taking it altogether and go back for another blood test in a week’s time. There don’t seem to be any suggestions about what other medication he could have or how to reduce potassium apart from drinking more water. Has any one else experienced this and got any advice please?

That’s a tough situation. Ramipril can raise potassium, especially with Spironolactone. Good that they’re monitoring it closely. Sometimes doctors change medications if potassium or kidney issues appear. Staying hydrated and following any dietary advice should help until the next test.

There are other options and I expect they will look at those.

Thinking of you.
It's not good to be anxious - hope it's resolved soon.

Nandalot

I am on it too, and recently had my dose increased so will have a blood test next week to check kidneys. No answers, just similarly worried. I find it very difficult to drink enough water though I am trying hard.

Have you tried drinking hot water? I felt I wasn’t drinking enough water but started having a mug of hot water in the morning and evening and am quite enjoying it.

I was on ramipril for a few months and found it made me cough a lot. Plus I felt miserable. I have given it up and it is like a cloud has lifted. My blood pressure is ok, a bit higher but still reasonable. Sometimes side effects are just not worth it.

I had raised potassium abd now only eat banana every other day. The other thing I read was to not use the water used for boiling vegetables in soup or gravy as that contains potassium.

Nanna8, I did the same. I had a cough that was so bad I couldn’t get to the end of a sentence without spluttering. I felt low as well. So I packed it in. I don’t think my b/p is much higher. I have lost a bit of weight and that has helped.

Interesting this as my husband is on it for his kidneys not high BP. He is now having more night sweats on it as he’s been taking it fir two months now.

Look up Plant Sterols on British Supplemnets and read the reviews.

My DH was on ramipril but also had a cough so they put him on losartan which is fine but I dont know of the compatability with your DHs other meds . Just hope he get sorted soon .

25Avalon

Dh has serious heart failure and is on Bisoprolol and Spironolactone. Although he was near the top of the permitted potassium levels he was put on Ramipril about 2 months ago. They were talking about increasing it but now blood tests show raised potassium levels affecting kidney function and he has been told to stop taking it altogether and go back for another blood test in a week’s time. There don’t seem to be any suggestions about what other medication he could have or how to reduce potassium apart from drinking more water. Has any one else experienced this and got any advice please?

There is one thing that I would avoid and that is eating bananas. They are supposedly good for you however they they also contain a lot of potassium in them . My late mum was in the same situation and was advised not to eat bananas for the same reason.

Has the GP recommended diet adjustment to avoid high potassium foods?

www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/potassium-lowering-dietary-advice/

Hi 25A, Oreo, MayBee70 & butterandjam have the right ideas & the link has very helpful info- but please change your/DH’s diet with a nutritionist as doing it all in one can give your/DH’s body a shock. Dropping bananas & potatoes is a good 1st step to take, though.
One of Ramipril’s common side effects is a cough- it sent both my Dad and (later) me, crazy! We both felt better within a month of stopping it.
I managed to pull a muscle through coughing bouts before moving onto Losartan

Bananas and bacon are potassium rich. I would cut them out altogether...

Jamfriedplumpy

Hi 25A, Oreo, MayBee70 & butterandjam have the right ideas & the link has very helpful info- but please change your/DH’s diet with a nutritionist as doing it all in one can give your/DH’s body a shock. Dropping bananas & potatoes is a good 1st step to take, though.
One of Ramipril’s common side effects is a cough- it sent both my Dad and (later) me, crazy! We both felt better within a month of stopping it.
I managed to pull a muscle through coughing bouts before moving onto Losartan

Where do you find a good nutritionist? I need to completely rethink my diet as the things I eat to help one thing are bad for another ( high cholesterol, iron deficiency and IBS!).

Oreo

Cut down on eating bananas🍌

100 % agree with you . Cut down on them . Too much potassium is as dangerous as too little potassium.

I was recently diagnosed with Heart Failure and high potassium levels with the suggestion that it was caused by failing kidneys. I was put on a (disgusting) powder dispersed in water that removes potassium from body tissues. I just now need another blood test!

I was on Valsartan from about 45 years given in Spain where I worked and paid into the system. Back in the UK they told me that it’s too expensive and causes cancer. It was £30 a month and I have paid full national insurance for over 38 years. Now I am on Losarten. Seems good. My BP has become rather low and they dropped the water tablets and aspirin. I hate bananas but was advised to eat about 8 a week. I did it to please them and do a blood test but the minute I passed their test I donated my bananas to my husband. I wish you all well suffering with high blood pressure.

I was on Ramipril but suffered a persistent cough. Check with pharmacist. There are alternatives. I am now on Losartan and have no problems.

Oreo

Cut down on eating bananas🍌

kidneycareuk.org/get-support/healthy-diet-support/cooking-with-kidney-disease/kidney-friendly-diet-facts/
I have CKD… and I eat bananas on toast regularly for breakfast … in fact a US study ( MAYO CLINIC) proved that tests on mice fed on WHOLE bananas reversed the disease! So now when I eat bananas I now slice off the ‘strings ‘ and and eat those as well ( they taste fine! ). I am not eating the skins, but as near as! So far about 5 years after diagnosis and kidney stones! at 80 next year I still have it but it has remained stable… so far… I cannot say if the banana eating has helped or not, but, so far, it hasn’t done any harm. 🤞

Despite being put on ramipril months ago and having a heart valve replaced my bp is still a bit high but NO ONE has mentioned any dietary advice for potassium at all. So thank you for this.I printed the advice from the link..I do get my bloods tested every 3 months or so but gp keeps saying its because of my epilepsy tablets & effect they have on me/other tablets. Have i been hoodwinked? I too have had a constant cough but was hard for gp to pinpoint if it was ramipril or because i already had it from being ill in 2019.They wanted me to take atorvastatin as well still but i'm taking plant sterols at my own choice instead.Maybe i need to discuss my tablets with my heart consultant now?

I was told by my GP last year, following my annual blood test, that ,,, his words.." You have kidney failure" having enjoyed reasonably good health throughout my "longish " life, ( am 89) I was shocked,, must have gasped or something similar,, and the GP said,, "you aren`t on dialysis" I was too shocked to take the conversation any further. Since then nothing from my GP surgery, but I have been searching on the web for details..

thank you for this thread. I am finding so much conflicting information as Suelld is pointing out here.. I wish the information was a little consistent.. I have been eating a banana a day for years now.. so turning to tinned fruit which this list suggests, says to throw away the fruit juice in the can.. oh dear! consistency would help

Again thankyou for this thread.

So whats the verdict? Eat bananas or not? I do like bananas.I would hate to give them up altogether.