A patient reports abdominal cramps and diarrhea. the patient's serum potassium level is 6.8 meq/l. what might the nurse infer from this finding?

The nurse can infer that the patient is taking a potassium-sparing diuretic, as well as taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. These two medicines can lead to cramps and diarrhea as side effects, such as having a potassium level that is well above the normal range, indicating hyperkalemia.