Are you overdoing it on electrolytes? Quebec poison control says calls are on the rise

Quebec poison control says calls are on the rise related to electrolytes.

Electrolyte drinks may quench your thirst on a hot day or after a gruelling workout, but Quebec’s poison control centre is warning they’re not without risks.

Centre antipoison du Québec is reporting a sharp increase in exposure cases related to electrolyte supplements.

The number of reported cases has increased by 30 per cent in the province over the past four years.

According to data from the centre, cases involving electrolyte and mineral supplements increased to 763 as of 2024, up from 584 in 2020.

Children under the age of five make up a significant portion of calls received by the centre, rising to 121 cases last year from 89 in 2020.

Dr. Josh Wang, a toxicologist at the poison control centre and incoming president of the Canadian Association for Clinical Toxicology and Poison Centres, said the reason for the uptick is still unclear.

“It’s hard to speculate. The numbers certainly show an increase in reporting to the poison centres,” said Wang, who also works as an emergency room physician at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). “It’s not clear to me from the data that we have what the reason is, however.”

Generally safe, but don’t overdo it

While many products, including well-known brands like Gatorade and Pedialyte, are generally safe, Wang said problems can occur when people overdo it or take them without proper guidance.

“As an emergency physician, I frequently advise patients who are dehydrated to take these,” he said. “But when [people] take it upon themselves to take supplementation, it’s important to know what their medical problems are, and perhaps [seek] counsel from a pharmacist or doctor if there’s any doubt in terms of the safety, for overdose or interactions.”

He mentioned that one popular hydration drink, Prime, contains 700 milligrams of potassium, “the same as two bananas.”

That could pose a risk for people with kidney issues.

“If [people] have kidney problems, difficulty eliminating, extra potassium in their diet or from beverages could be potentially a risk,” he said.

So, if you feel parched, should you choose an electrolyte drink or stick to the old standby — water?

Wang assured that most products are safe when used as directed, but said to keep it simple.

“Generally, if you’re thirsty, you should drink water. I think that’s a good rule of thumb,” he said. If you opt for electrolyte drinks, he noted that “it’s easy to go over, make arithmetic errors, and too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.”

Symptoms depend on the mineral

Symptoms of overdoing it vary depending on the mineral.

“Some of them can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. In more extreme cases, they can cause decreased mental status,” Wang said, pointing to magnesium. “Calcium... can be associated with constipation.”

Potassium, he said, is “my most respected electrolyte in terms of overdose risk, danger for cardiac disturbances and dangerous cardiac rhythms that could lead the patient to present to the emergency department.”

Advice for parents

He also urged parents to keep all supplements safely stored away.

“Keeping supplements and medications out of reach...under lock and key, away from the reach and away from the curious eyes and fingers of little ones,” he said. “I continue to encourage it to all my patients and all the people that ask me about it.”

Wang said the Quebec poison centre is a great resource, and when in doubt, people can call the team at 1-800-463-5060.

“Specifically, in regard to overdose, we provide very efficient, very rapid advice,” he said.