Cureus. 2023 Aug 30;15(8):e44393. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44393. eCollection 2023 Aug.
ABSTRACT
Severe hypokalemia can have life-threatening complications such as significant muscle weakness, ileus, rhabdomyolysis, and respiratory failure. Here, we report a case of a 33-year-old male who presented with worsening lower extremity weakness and falls after smoking marijuana for six months. Initial labs showed severe hypokalemia. EKG was remarkable for a first-degree AV block, widened QRS complex, and ST segment depression. Intravenous potassium replacement resulted in complete resolution of lower extremity motor weakness. Our case highlights the underdiagnosed association of marijuana use with clinically significant hypokalemia and the rare presentation of severe hypokalemia with acute paralysis.
PMID:37786569 | PMC:PMC10541681 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.44393
About The Author
Patrick Blanchard MD
Meet Dr. Blanchard
Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners.
Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.
