Table 2.

Selected Medications Associated With Hypokalemia¹–⁵,¹³

Medication Class	Examples of Common Drugs	Mechanism
Antimicrobials	Nafcillin Ampicillin Penicillin Aminoglycosides* Amphotericin B* Foscarnet*	Renal potassium loss
Beta2-receptor agonists	Albuterol Ephedrine Epinephrine Formoterol Isoproterenol Pseudoephedrine Terbutaline Salmeterol	Shift of potassium from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid compartment
Diuretics	Acetazolamide Bumetanide Chlorthalidone Ethacrynic acid Furosemide Indapamide Metolazone Thiazides Torsemide	Renal potassium loss
Insulin	High dose (overdose)	Shift of potassium from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid compartment
Mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids	Hydrocortisone† Fludrocortisone Prednisone†	Renal potassium loss
Laxatives	Sodium polystyrene sulfonate Phenolphthalein Sorbitol	Stool (gastrointestinal) potassium loss
Xanthines	Theophylline Caffeine	Shift of potassium from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid compartment
Other	Verapamil (in overdose)	Shift of potassium from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid compartment

^*Also associated with magnesium depletion

^†Increases potassium excretion nonspecifically through effect on filtration rate and distal sodium delivery