Patient progress tracker
A tool to help track improvements in your health and how you are feeling throughout treatment.
Routine monitoring
Important monitoring throughout treatment
During treatment with Korlym®, you need to routinely check your potassium levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure. If you’re not already monitoring your blood sugar and blood pressure at home, ask your healthcare provider if you should start.
Use the tabs below to learn more about the importance of monitoring during treatment with Korlym.
Monitoring potassium levels
Before starting and while taking Korlym, you’ll need to have your blood drawn periodically to check your potassium levels. Ask your healthcare provider to review the results of your blood work with you. Monitoring your potassium levels is important because some people may experience lower than normal potassium levels (hypokalemia) while on Korlym. This can be a serious health risk. If left untreated, low potassium can lead to increased blood pressure and can affect your heart rate. Your healthcare provider may decide to prescribe potassium or other medications to keep your potassium levels normal.
Symptoms of low potassium may include:
- Swelling of your hands or feet (edema)
- Muscle aches and cramps
- Irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- Constipation
Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any of these signs and symptoms. You may not experience all of the signs and symptoms of low potassium, and it’s also important to know that other medications may also affect your potassium levels.
You should have your potassium levels checked:
- Before starting treatment
- 1-2 weeks after your first dose
- 1-2 weeks after a dose increase
- Periodically throughout treatment
Talk to your healthcare provider about scheduling appointments to have your potassium levels checked.
Monitoring blood sugar
Changes in your blood sugar are possible while taking Korlym. If you’re not already monitoring your blood sugar levels at home, ask your healthcare provider if you should start. Korlym can help reduce blood sugar caused by excess cortisol, so if you take medications for diabetes, they may need to be reduced or adjusted. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel:
Tired
Shaky
Anxious
Irritable
Very hungry
Also tell your healthcare provider if you:
Have low blood sugar levels
Notice changes to your heartbeat, skin color, or sweat
Monitoring blood pressure
Changes in blood pressure are possible while taking Korlym. If you’re not already monitoring your blood pressure at home, ask your healthcare provider if you should start. If you are taking blood pressure medicine, work with the healthcare provider who prescribed that medicine as your body adjusts to Korlym. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel:
Dizzy
Faint
Nauseous
Tired
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have fainted
- Had changes to your vision
- Are struggling to concentrate
- Had changes in blood pressure
