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Q: Penicillin ( No Answer,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Penicillin
Category: Health
Asked by: ehad2-ga
List Price: $10.00
Posted: 14 Aug 2004 12:29 PDT
Expires: 13 Sep 2004 12:29 PDT
Question ID: 387841
Could you explain the reasons for any changes in serum potassium when
patients are taking penicillin?  thank you
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Penicillin
From: purkinje-ga on 14 Aug 2004 13:05 PDT
 
Well, penicillin can come in the form of penicillin G potassium, for
example, so if that is what you are using, then that would definitely
cause hyperkalemia. The only other things I can think of is that the
acidic carboxyl group and the metabolite penicilloic acid causes
acidosis, and the kidney compensates for acidosis by the H+/K+
antiporter, thus also causing hyperkalemia.
Subject: Re: Penicillin
From: arsenic-ga on 14 Aug 2004 15:00 PDT
 
"Hypokalemia may develop during therapy with certain antibiotics.
Carbenicillin or other penicillin-like antibiotics exist as sodium or
potassium salts of impermeant anions and promote kaliuresis because
they increase net sodium excretion and because of an impermeant anion
effect. Amphotericin B increases the permeability of luminal membranes
to potassium and therefore promotes potassium secretion. Gentamicin
produces potassium losses by unknown mechanisms."

http://www.nursingceu.com/NCEU/courses/hypohyper/
Subject: Re: Penicillin
From: ehad2-ga on 16 Aug 2004 20:00 PDT
 
Thank you for the comments pertaining to this question.  Though not
designated "answers", the comments were extremely helpful and prompt.

Elizabeth.

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