Definition. CO2 is carbon dioxide. This article discusses the laboratory test to measures the amount of carbon dioxide in the liquid part of your blood, called the serum. In the body, most of the CO2 is in the form of a substance called bicarbonate (HCO3-). Therefore, the CO2 blood test is really a measure of your blood bicarbonate level.
Potassium can cause stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal gas, and other side effects. Too much potassium is UNSAFE and can cause feelings of burning or tingling, generalized weakness, paralysis, listlessness, dizziness, mental confusion, low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm, and death.
But too much potassium in your blood can lead to dangerous, and possibly deadly, changes in heart rhythm. Causes of Hyperkalemia Drug-Induced Hyperkalemia. Certain medications can also make it harder for the kidneys to remove potassium. This is particularly true if you have kidney disease or problems with the way your body handles potassium. Also, some drugs may increase the amount of potassium in the body. Medications that have been linked to hyperkalemia include: Antibiotics, including penicillin G and trimethoprim