Which medication is used to help eliminate excess potassium from the body?

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The medication that helps eliminate excess potassium from the body is Kayexelate. This medication, also known as sodium polystyrene sulfonate, works by binding to potassium in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for its excretion through the feces. This mechanism makes it particularly useful in cases of hyperkalemia, where there are dangerously high levels of potassium in the blood.

While diuretics like Lasix (furosemide) can help remove potassium through urine, they do not specifically target potassium elimination in the same way Kayexelate does. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, which means it retains potassium in the body rather than eliminating it, making it ineffective for lowering high potassium levels. Normal saline is an intravenous fluid that does not have a direct effect on potassium levels and is not utilized for this purpose. Thus, Kayexelate is the optimal choice for reducing elevated potassium levels effectively.

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