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Study · Case report or series · n = 1 · 2025

5 results

Hypokalemia Requiring Hospitalization After Taking Semaglutide Injections.

Grennan KN, Singh D, Chindris AM, Wilson JR

Cureus6 Jul 2025Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID40772190 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12326210 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.7759/cureus.87382 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40772190
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Summary

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are not known to cause hypokalemia. We report two patients taking semaglutide who developed hypokalemia requiring hospitalization. Patient one was a 48-year-old female with type 2 diabetes who presented to the clinic for diabetes management. She was prescribed injectable semaglutide for glucose control. Six months later, she developed emesis and nausea with potassium levels of 2.7 mmol/L, requiring hospitalization for potassium replacement. A second readmission occurred several months later for hypokalemia of 2.6 mmol/L. She required peripheral parenteral nutrition and was transitioned to a feeding tube. Semaglutide was discontinued, and insulin was initiated with resolution of hypokalemia. Patient two was a 45-year-old female with obesity and prediabetes who presented to the clinic for treatment of obesity and was prescribed semaglutide for weight loss. Pre-semaglutide serum potassium levels were 3.4 mmol/L while taking a stable dose of 50 mg of chlorthalidone daily and 20 mEq of potassium daily. After 1.5 months on semaglutide, the patient's potassium decreased to 3.1 mmol/L. Repeat potassium five days later was 2.5 mmol/L, which prompted hospital admission. Chlorthalidone was discontinued, and potassium was increased to 40 mEq daily. Her potassium improved to 4.2 mmol/L. Semaglutide was eventually discontinued. She stopped potassium supplementation. Her potassium has remained stable at or above 3.8 mmol/L. We report the hospitalization of two patients for hypokalemia during their semaglutide treatment. Hypokalemia is not a reported side effect, and the cause in these patients may be multifactorial. This potential side effect should be monitored in patients who are at risk of hypokalemia.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 48-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes, hypokalemia (potassium 2.7 mmol/L) with emesis and nausea requiring hospitalization developed six months after starting injectable semaglutide.

    In plain wordsIn one woman with type 2 diabetes, low blood potassium needing hospital care appeared six months after she started semaglutide injections.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum potassium, patient 1, first admission
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · injectionAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Serum potassium
    2.7 mmol/L
    patient 1, six months after start

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Six months later, she developed emesis and nausea with potassium levels of 2.7 mmol/L, requiring hospitalization for potassium replacement.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Patient one was a 48-year-old female with type 2 diabetes who presented to the clinic for diabetes management. She was prescribed injectable semaglutide for glucose control.
  2. 02HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    The same patient was readmitted several months later with hypokalemia of 2.6 mmol/L during semaglutide treatment.

    In plain wordsThe same woman returned to hospital months later with low blood potassium while still taking semaglutide.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum potassium, patient 1, readmission
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · injectionAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Serum potassium
    2.6 mmol/L
    patient 1, readmission

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A second readmission occurred several months later for hypokalemia of 2.6 mmol/L.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Patient one was a 48-year-old female with type 2 diabetes who presented to the clinic for diabetes management. She was prescribed injectable semaglutide for glucose control.
  3. 03HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 45-year-old woman with obesity and prediabetes, potassium fell from 3.4 to 3.1 mmol/L after 1.5 months on semaglutide, while on chlorthalidone and potassium supplements.

    In plain wordsIn one woman with obesity, blood potassium fell soon after she started semaglutide, while she also took a water tablet and potassium.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum potassium, patient 2, fall after start
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · injectionAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Serum potassium
    3.4 mmol/L
    before semaglutide
    Serum potassium
    3.1 mmol/L
    after 1.5 months on semaglutide

    Source sentences

    Summary
    After 1.5 months on semaglutide, the patient's potassium decreased to 3.1 mmol/L.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Patient two was a 45-year-old female with obesity and prediabetes who presented to the clinic for treatment of obesity and was prescribed semaglutide for weight loss. Pre-semaglutide serum potassium levels were 3.4 mmol/L while taking a stable dose of 50 mg of chlorthalidone daily and 20 mEq of potassium daily.
  4. 04HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In the same patient, repeat potassium five days later was 2.5 mmol/L, which prompted hospital admission.

    In plain wordsFive days later this woman's potassium was lower still and she was admitted to hospital.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum potassium, patient 2, hospital admission
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · injectionAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Serum potassium
    2.5 mmol/L
    patient 2, five days later

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Repeat potassium five days later was 2.5 mmol/L, which prompted hospital admission.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Patient two was a 45-year-old female with obesity and prediabetes who presented to the clinic for treatment of obesity and was prescribed semaglutide for weight loss.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

  1. 05HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneCase report or seriesOther

    In this patient, hypokalemia resolved after semaglutide was stopped and insulin was started; the two changes happened together.

    In plain wordsIn this woman, potassium returned to normal after semaglutide was stopped and insulin was started, so the two changes cannot be told apart.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseResolution of hypokalemia after stopping semaglutide and starting insulin, patient 1
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Metabolic and weight

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide was discontinued, and insulin was initiated with resolution of hypokalemia.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Patient one was a 48-year-old female with type 2 diabetes who presented to the clinic for diabetes management. She was prescribed injectable semaglutide for glucose control.

    In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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