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I once consumed a couple of grams of NU-Salt (potassium chloride) in an effort to lower blood pressure. Indeed it works. Also lowers heart rate. And makes your

I once consumed a couple of grams of NU-Salt (potassium chloride) in an effort to lower blood pressure. Indeed it works. Also lowers heart rate. And makes your face numb. Use it lightly on food otherwise everything taste metallic. This wasn't a very wise experiment -- I don't recommend it. Injected, KCl can kill you (and is used for executions). I don't know the fatal oral dose, but it's so orally unpleasant you'd probably be vomiting before getting there.

giardini 4y ago
I've taken it for nighttime cramps that wake me from sleep after a strenuous workout. A few shakes of NU-Salt into a 1/2-cup of water, stir and drink. Works fast (within 20 seconds) and lets me sleep.
TheRealPomax 4y ago
Small reminder that it's not an experiment unless you have a hypothesis, rule out all other variables, and chronicle the results. No clipboard, no experiment.
patrulek 4y ago
I once dosed (orally) 20g of KCl in about one hour. I felt very "lightly" and felt tingling all over my body. It was nice experiment, but not so wise as you already mentioned.
dheera 4y ago
> I don't know the fatal oral dose Probably the reason most OTC potassium supplements (ones sold in the US at least) have FAR less potassium in a single tablet than a banana. It's basically impossible for a adult with healthy function to overdose themselves on potassium with bananas (or coconut water, or avocados) before getting full, but with the tablets it would be much easier to abuse them if they contained even 1 banana's worth per tablet.
fbdab103 4y ago
Oral LD50 is ~2.6g/kg, for a fatal dose on the order of 180 grams. Which, indeed, sounds impossible to consume without retching out your guts.
mikewarot 4y ago
I bought a shaker of Nu-Salt after the previous mention of potassium a month ago[1] I use it instead of table salt to season food. (But still use conventional salt in cooking). The first time I used a bit too much, and everything tasted... off. Since then I've backed off, and it's ok. I'm shocked at how much weight I've lost (approximately 20 pounds, but I am morbidly obese) [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34072801 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34072801

giardini 4y ago

I've taken it for nighttime cramps that wake me from sleep after a strenuous workout. A few shakes of NU-Salt into a 1/2-cup of water, stir and drink. Works fast (within 20 seconds) and lets me sleep.

TheRealPomax 4y ago

Small reminder that it's not an experiment unless you have a hypothesis, rule out all other variables, and chronicle the results. No clipboard, no experiment.

patrulek 4y ago

I once dosed (orally) 20g of KCl in about one hour. I felt very "lightly" and felt tingling all over my body. It was nice experiment, but not so wise as you already mentioned.

dheera 4y ago

> I don't know the fatal oral dose Probably the reason most OTC potassium supplements (ones sold in the US at least) have FAR less potassium in a single tablet than a banana. It's basically impossible for a adult with healthy function to overdose themselves on potassium with bananas (or coconut water, or avocados) before getting full, but with the tablets it would be much easier to abuse them if they contained even 1 banana's worth per tablet.

fbdab103 4y ago

Oral LD50 is ~2.6g/kg, for a fatal dose on the order of 180 grams. Which, indeed, sounds impossible to consume without retching out your guts.

mikewarot 4y ago

I bought a shaker of Nu-Salt after the previous mention of potassium a month ago[1] I use it instead of table salt to season food. (But still use conventional salt in cooking). The first time I used a bit too much, and everything tasted... off. Since then I've backed off, and it's ok. I'm shocked at how much weight I've lost (approximately 20 pounds, but I am morbidly obese) [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34072801 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34072801