Where can I find this law?
January 4, 2011 9:41 PM

Where is the law/regulation that prevents potassium supplements from exceeding 99 mg without a prescription?

I am trying to increase the potassium in my diet and am frustrated that all supplements only have 99 mg per serving. Apparently there is a law out there that dictates this. Well, I have Lexis at work, and although I am no pro, I was unable to find such a thing. I would really like to know where I can find this. If not the exact citation, then at least the place I should be looking.
posted by blargerz to Law & Government (6 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
This is unlikely to be the result of a law. It might be the result of an FDA regulation.

Most likely, though, it's based on what the evidence suggests is an appropriate therapeutic dose. Potassium is serious stuff. No potassium=death, some potassium=good health, but that does not mean that lots of potassium=great health. Too much potassium can stop your heart.

If your doctor has identified that your dietary potassium levels are too low, he or she can recommend the right dose of supplements for you to take. If you've just decided that you think you should consume more potassium, eat a banana.
posted by embrangled at 10:15 PM on January 4, 2011


You can have all the potassium you can eat in the form of potassium chloride, a table salt substitute.
posted by Nomyte at 10:16 PM on January 4, 2011


A quick google found this. Don't know if this answers the question as to whether there is a law or reg.
posted by Raymond Marble at 10:16 PM on January 4, 2011


21 CFR 216.24: "The following drug products were withdrawn or removed from the market because such drug products or components of such drug products were found to be unsafe or not effective. The following drug products may not be compounded under the exemptions provided by section 503A(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act:

...

Potassium chloride: All solid oral dosage form drug products containing potassium chloride that supply 100 milligrams or more of potassium per dosage unit (except for controlled-release dosage forms and those products formulated for preparation of solution prior to ingestion)."
posted by jedicus at 6:51 AM on January 5, 2011


And some further regulations: 21 CFR 201.306 that, among other things, requires the use of the prescription caution statement for potassium supplements of 100mg or more.
posted by jedicus at 6:55 AM on January 5, 2011


You can always take more than one pill. (But don't do it unless you actually have a diagnosed potassium deficiency! This isn't something to mess around with on your own, as embrangled says.)

Isn't prescription potassium similarly priced to over-the-counter potassium, though?
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:12 AM on January 5, 2011


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