How long is the recovery from mild-severe hypokalemia and what are the stages of recovery?

Hours: We correct low potassium as soon as possible. With IV therapy it should return to normal in a few hours. If this is from chronic diuretic use as out-patient and oral k used expect a week to return to normal levels.

A few hours: Depends upon degree of hypokalemia. Typically acute and severe deficiency is corrected immediately with intravenous potassium. Once that is done oral replacement is undertaken. We do not typically stage recovery and the pt does not generally notice any stages...