Plasma Potassium in Hypertensive Africans on Frusemide

Abstract

The effects of potassium chloride (as Slow-K® 600 mg three times daily) and spironolactone (as A ldactone-A,® 25 mg four times daily) were compared in hypertensive African patients on frusemide. Mean plasma-potassium levels in patients on frusemide plus Slow-K® and frusemide plus Aldactone-A® rose from 3.6 to 3.8 mOsm/L whilst on frusemide alone mean plasma-potassium fell from 3.7 to 3.6 mOsm/L. The mean blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, was significantly reduced in the frusemide plus Aldactone-A® group when compared with patients on frusemide alone or on frusemide plus Slow-K®.