Effects on Upper Gastrointestinal Mucosa of Three Delivery Systems of Potassium as Supplement to Frusemide Administration

Thirty healthy volunteers were recruited into a study to determine the effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa of 3 different delivery systems of oral potassium supplementation associated with diuretic therapy (Diumide-K ContinusR tablets, Napp; Lasikal tablets, Hoechst; Lasix and Slow-KR tablets, Hoechst, Ciba). The volunteers were gastroscoped initially and after one week of treatment with one of the three therapies. There was a 60% incidence of erosions in the Lasix + Slow-K group, a 40% incidence in the Lasikal group, but no erosions in the group receiving Diumide-K Continus tablets. It is therefore concluded that Diumide-K Continus tablets incorporate the potassium in a delivery system which is unlikely to cause disruption to the gastrointestinal mucosa.