What Are the Treatments for Acute Hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia is a condition that occurs when compromised kidney function leads to excessive levels of potassium in the bloodstream. This buildup triggers a mineral imbalance in the body that can degrade the function of the heart. Acute hyperkalemia is a critical manifestation of this disorder, and left untreated it may result in cardiac arrest and death. Treatment for acute hyperkalemia includes steps to protect the body and lower potassium levels.

Recognizing Emergency Symptoms

• If you are suffering from the onset of hyperkalemia, it is common to experience no advanced warning. In some cases you may experience irregular heartbeat; slow, weak or absent pulse; weakness; nausea; breathing changes or loss of consciousness. These are signs of a critical emergency, and if they occur call 911 immediately. If you have no symptoms, acute hyperkalemia can be detected through blood tests or electrocardiogram (ECG) readings of the heart's function.

Treating the Effects of Hyperkalemia

• Hyperkalemia has a number of potential causes, but treatment of its immediate effects always comes first. Emergency workers or doctors have a number of options to decrease your potassium levels and protect your heart. Loop diuretics are medications used to lower total body potassium through increased excretion in urine. Examples include furosemide (Lasix), bumetadine (Bumex) and torsemide (Demadex). Sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexalate) belongs to a group of medications known as cation-exchange resins, which bind to excess potassium and allow it to be removed through the gastrointestinal tract.

  If kidney function is severely affected, dialysis may be used to mechanically cleanse your blood in place of the kidneys' normal actions. If hyperkalemia is the result of acidosis, or excessive acid in your body fluids, you may be given a medication called sodium bicarbonate. Heart and muscle malfunctions caused by your hyperkalemia can be temporarily controlled through use of intravenous calcium. Longer reversal of severe symptoms may be obtain through use of intravenous glucose and insulin.

Treating Underlying Causes

• Once your condition is stabilized, doctors will treat the underlying source of hyperkalemia. Outside of acidosis, potential causes include chronic or acute kidney failure, kidney transplant rejection, Addison's disease, burns, gastrointestinal bleeding, tumors, surgery and traumatic injury. The steps taken to resolve your hyperkalemia will vary with your doctors' preference and the nature of the active condition.

Aftercare

• In the aftermath of acute hyperkalemia, you may require continued care to address the lingering effects of illness. If you have chronic kidney failure, you will need to establish a lifelong low potassium diet and stop or reduce any supplements containing potassium. You will also need to continue use of loop diuretics to purge potassium and excess fluid. Be aware that you will also need to avoid the use of salt substitutes, since these commonly use potassium as a main ingredient. As a precaution your doctor may also ask you to undergo regular kidney function tests to ensure that your condition remains stabilized.