![]() ![]() Illingworth RN, Proudfoot AT (1980) Rapid poisoning with slow-release potassium. Semin Nephrol 31:542–552īosse GM, Platt MA, Anderson SD, Presley MW (2011) Acute oral potassium overdose: the role of hemodialysis. Palmer BF (2011) Metabolic complications associated with use of diuretics. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (2004) Dietary reference intakes for water, potassium, sodium, chloride, and sulfate. Panel on Dietary Reference Intakes for Electrolytes and Water. Tyson WT (1837) On poisoning with cream of tartar. Wood GB (1868) A treatis on therapeutics and pharmacology or materia medica, 3rd edn. Accessed 6 July 2012Įberle J (1847) A treatise of the materia medica and therapeutics, 6th edn. ![]() University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries-Electronic Text Center (2005) The journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Stuhler R (2012) Cream of tartar health uses. Hull JS (2011) No-smokin’ the cream of tartar. Cream of tartar for bladder infection (cystitis). Lazzaroni M, Casini V, Bianchi Porro G (2005) Role or carbon dioxide-releasing suppositories in the treatment of chronic functional constipation: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Spiller GA, Story JA, Furumoto EJ, Chezem JC, Spiller M (2007) Effect of tartaric acid and dietary fibre from sun-dried raisins on colonic function and on bile acid and volatile fatty acid excretion in healthy adults. Ingestion of cream of tartar can potentially result in life-threatening hyperkalemia. A search for articles on an academic internet database failed to identify any cases specifically dealing with ill effects of potassium bitartrate and numerous websites continue to purport its beneficial health effects. Both patients were treated for hyperkalemia and recovered without complication. They manifested similar initial symptoms (vomiting), abnormal serum potassium (>8.0 mmol/L), and EKG’s with peaked T waves. In both cases, individuals ingested a large quantity of cream of tartar in an effort to “clean themselves out”. ![]() In addition, we briefly review the use of cream of tartar as a historical purgative. We report two cases in which intentional ingestions of cream of tartar resulted in life-threatening hyperkalemia. Despite containing large amounts of potassium, there are no well-documented cases of it causing toxicity. Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) has a long history as a cooking aid and medicinal purgative. ![]()
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