What supplements can raise potassium levels? Your Guide to Safe Options

October 18, 2025 •

3 min read

Experts estimate that many Americans do not get enough potassium from their diet. This can lead to low potassium levels, prompting the question: What supplements can raise potassium levels? The answer involves specific oral supplements, but requires careful consideration under a doctor's supervision.

Quick Summary

Potassium supplements, available in forms like chloride, citrate, and gluconate, can increase low potassium levels, but should always be taken under a doctor's supervision due to health risks.

Key Points

Primary Supplements: Potassium chloride is the most common supplement for treating low potassium (hypokalemia) and is available in various forms.
Medical Supervision is Crucial: Due to the serious risk of high potassium (hyperkalemia), all supplementation must be supervised by a healthcare professional.
Different Forms, Different Uses: Potassium citrate is often used for kidney stones, while potassium chloride is primarily for hypokalemia.
Diet First: For most healthy individuals, increasing potassium intake should focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and legumes, not supplements.
OTC Limits: Over-the-counter supplements are legally limited to 99 mg of potassium per serving, a dose much smaller than a prescription.
Drug Interactions: Certain medications, including ACE inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics, can interact dangerously with potassium supplements.

Understanding Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)

Potassium is an essential mineral and electrolyte crucial for many bodily functions, including regulating your heartbeat, enabling muscle contractions, and maintaining fluid balance within cells. Low potassium, or hypokalemia, can result from various factors, such as excessive vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, or the use of certain medications like diuretics. Symptoms of hypokalemia can range from mild issues like muscle weakness and fatigue to severe, life-threatening complications such as irregular heart rhythms. For most healthy individuals, the best way to maintain proper potassium levels is through a balanced diet rich in potassium-heavy foods. However, in cases of clinical deficiency, medical intervention with supplements may be necessary.

Primary Supplements That Can Raise Potassium Levels

When dietary changes are not enough to correct a deficiency, a doctor may recommend or prescribe potassium supplements. These are available in several forms, each with a different purpose and potency. It is vital to consult a healthcare provider to determine the right form and dosage for your specific needs.

1. Potassium Chloride This is the most common form used for treating low potassium (hypokalemia). It is available in a variety of formats:

Extended-Release (ER) Tablets and Capsules: These release potassium slowly to minimize stomach irritation.
Powder and Liquid: These forms are diluted in water or juice and can be easier for individuals who have difficulty swallowing pills. Over-the-counter (OTC) potassium chloride supplements are available, but their dosage is limited by the FDA to no more than 99 mg per serving. Prescribed versions offer higher, medically appropriate dosages.

2. Potassium Citrate While also effective at raising potassium levels, potassium citrate is often specifically prescribed for patients with a history of certain types of kidney stones. This is because it increases urinary pH and citrate levels, which can help prevent stone formation. However, it is not interchangeable with potassium chloride and should only be used as directed for the intended purpose.

3. Potassium Gluconate This form is typically available as an OTC supplement. It is considered gentler on the stomach compared to potassium chloride, but it contains less elemental potassium. Because of its lower potency, it may be better suited for mild deficiencies or for maintenance rather than for correcting a significant hypokalemia.

The Critical Importance of Medical Supervision

Self-treating low potassium with supplements is extremely dangerous. The primary risk is hyperkalemia, or having too much potassium in the blood. In healthy individuals, excess potassium is typically excreted by the kidneys. However, for those with kidney disease or other conditions that impair potassium regulation, this can be lethal and may cause irregular heartbeats or cardiac arrest. Several medications can also interfere with potassium levels, including ACE inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics, amplifying the risk of hyperkalemia. A healthcare provider can monitor your potassium levels through blood tests and EKGs to ensure treatment is safe and effective.

Dietary vs. Supplemental Potassium

For most people, the safest and most effective strategy is to get potassium from food. A balanced diet provides a slow, natural increase in potassium levels, minimizing the risk of a dangerous spike. Excellent sources of dietary potassium include:

Fruits: Dried apricots, bananas, oranges, and cantaloupe.
Vegetables: Potatoes (with skin), spinach, broccoli, and acorn squash.
Legumes and Nuts: Lentils, kidney beans, soybeans, and cashews.
Dairy: Milk and yogurt.

Comparing Common Potassium Supplement Forms


Supplement Form	Primary Use	Typical Availability	Key Benefit/Consideration
Potassium Chloride	Treating hypokalemia	OTC (low dose) & Prescription (high dose)	Most common form for direct potassium replacement; extended-release options available.
Potassium Citrate	Preventing kidney stones	OTC & Prescription	Increases urinary pH; also raises blood potassium but typically not first-line for hypokalemia.
Potassium Gluconate	Mild hypokalemia or maintenance	OTC only	Lower elemental potassium content per serving; gentler on the stomach.
Multivitamins	General nutrient support	OTC only	Contain very low doses of potassium (often less than 99 mg); not for treating deficiency.

Conclusion

While certain supplements like potassium chloride, citrate, and gluconate can help raise potassium levels, they should only be used under the careful guidance of a healthcare professional. The potential for a dangerous electrolyte imbalance, known as hyperkalemia, makes unsupervised supplementation extremely risky. For the majority of healthy individuals, focusing on a potassium-rich diet is the best and safest approach to maintaining proper levels. Always consult your doctor to determine if you need a supplement and which one is right for you, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are on other medications.

For more information on the role of potassium in your diet, you can refer to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

OTC supplements are legally limited to very small doses (99 mg) of potassium and are not sufficient for treating a clinical deficiency. Always consult a doctor before starting any potassium supplement.

For significant deficiencies, a doctor may prescribe a higher-dose potassium supplement, or in severe hospital cases, an intravenous potassium infusion may be necessary.

Excessive potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, a dangerous condition that may cause muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and potentially cardiac arrest.

Potassium chloride is mainly used for hypokalemia, whereas potassium citrate is often used for kidney stone prevention due to its effect on urinary pH.

For most people, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and legumes is the safest and most effective way to maintain adequate potassium levels. Supplements are generally reserved for diagnosed deficiencies.

Individuals with kidney disease, heart conditions, or those taking specific medications like ACE inhibitors should be extremely cautious and only take supplements under strict medical supervision.

Symptoms of hypokalemia can include muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, and in more severe instances, an irregular heart rhythm.