Vomiting and Diarrhea
Low potassium also results from loss of fluids from diarrhea and vomiting. Though this is usually temporary and caused by things like common stomach flu (gastroenteritis), other conditions, such as the eating disorder called bulimia nervosa, can also cause hypokalemia. Excessive laxative use is another potential cause, since too many fluids will be lost during self-induced diarrhea.
