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Ingestion of cream of tartar can potentially result in life-threatening hyperkalemia.

A search for articles on an academic internet database failed to identify any cases specifically dealing with ill effects of potassium bitartrate and numerous websites continue to purport its beneficial health effects. Both patients were treated for hyperkalemia and recovered without complication. They manifested similar initial symptoms (vomiting), abnormal serum potassium (>8.0 mmol/L), and EKG’s with peaked T waves. In both cases, individuals ingested a large quantity of cream of tartar in an effort to “clean themselves out”. In addition, we briefly review the use of cream of tartar as a historical purgative.

We report two cases in which intentional ingestions of cream of tartar resulted in life-threatening hyperkalemia. Despite containing large amounts of potassium, there are no well-documented cases of it causing toxicity. Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) has a long history as a cooking aid and medicinal purgative.

Cream of tartar heb