Arthritis Osteoarthritis Living With Effects of Arthritis Medication on Potassium Abnormal levels of the mineral can negatively affect heart health By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Violetta Shamilova, PharmD on April 22, 2020 Violetta Shamilova, PharmD, is a board-licensed pharmacist. She is an assistant professor at the Touro College School of Health Sciences, and has worked at CVS pharmacy for five years. She completed the certified APhA Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services course. Learn about our Medical Review Board Violetta Shamilova, PharmD on April 22, 2020 Print If you take medication for osteoarthritis, then you know how truly helpful certain ones can be for relieving pain and other symptoms of this debilitating joint disease. But as with most drugs, those used for treating arthritis can have worrisome side effects. Two in particular—corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)—have been associated with abnormal levels of potassium, a mineral that's vital to health, especially the normal function of the heart. So if you're on either medication for treating arthritis, here's what you should know about how it may affect your potassium levels, why it matters, and ways you may be able to manage this side effect of arthritis medication. Chris Ryan / Getty Images The Role of Potassium in the Body Potassium is found in a variety of foods, including meat, some types of fish, certain fruits and vegetables, legumes (peas and beans that come in a shell, and peanuts), and dairy products, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It plays an important role in keeping all of the cells, tissues, and organs in the body working properly. Potassium also is a key electrolyte: Along with sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium, potassium helps conduct electricity in the body, which in turn is important for the proper contraction of muscles. Since the heart is a muscle, it's easy to see why proper amounts of potassium are important for cardiac health. Arthritis Drugs and Potassium For people with osteoarthritis, corticosteroids can reduce inflammation that causes joint pain, stiffness, and the breakdown of bone and cartilage. The steroids most often prescribed for arthritis include Decadron (dexamethasone), Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone), and prednisone (usually sold in generic form), according to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network. At the same, though, these drugs have been associated with changes in the flow of potassium to the heart, which may cause it to beat irregularly, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The most common type of heart arrhythmia is called atrial fibrillation (AF). Symptoms include a fluttery feeling in the chest from palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. AF also is linked by a fivefold increase in the risk of stroke. Research shows that NSAIDs can cause a variety of problems with electrolyte levels. When it comes to potassium, these common medications may lead to a condition called hyperkalemia, in which levels of the mineral become too high and lead to heart arrhythmias. This risk may increase when NSAIDs are combined with blood pressure medication. Examples include ACE inhibitors such as captopril and enalapril (both sold only in generic form) and potassium-sparing diuretics such as Dyazide and Maxzide, both brand names for the generic medication triamterene. 1:50 An Overview of Hyperkalemia As long as your kidneys are functioning normally, you aren't likely to have problems with elevated potassium levels while taking an NSAID for arthritis. Even so, your doctor may want to check your potassium after you've been taking the drug for two or three weeks, or even sooner if you're also taking an ACE inhibitor or diuretic. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn tips for managing arthrits pain, medications, and daily challenges. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mayo Clinic. High Potassium (Hyperkalemia). MedlinePlus. Drugs, Herbs, and Supplements: Digoxin. Sejoong Kim, MD and Kwon Wook Joo, MD. "Electrolyte and Acid-Based Disturbances Associated With Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs." Electrolyte Blood Press, Dec 2007; 5(2): 116-125.