Causes of Hypokalemia

• Decreased potassium intake

• Increased entry into cells

• An elevation in extracellular pH

• Increased availability of insulin

• Elevated adrenergic activity - administration of beta agonists

• Hypokalemic periodic paralysis

• Marked increase in blood cell production (B12 or folate administration)

• Hypothermia

• Drugs: Chloroquine, Barium

• Increased gastrointestinal losses

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Laxative abuse

• Increased urinary losses

• Diuretics

• Primary mineralocorticoid excess

• Loss of gastric secretions

• Nonreabsorbable anions

• Metabolic acidosis

• Hypomagnesemia

• Amphotericin B

• Salt-wasting nephropathies - including Bartter's or Gitelman's syndrome

• Polyuria

• Increased sweat losses

• Dialysis

• Plasmapheresis