from Elson M. Haas, MD at http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=2063&xcntr=3 - my two cents in brackets

Deficiency of potassium is much more common, especially with aging or chronic disease. <If it is common, then all the talk about getting enough in a healthy diet is suspect>
Some common problems that have been associated with low potassium levels include hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrythmias, fatigue, and depression and other mood changes. <fatigue? depression? who? us?>

Many factors reduce body levels of potassium. Diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems may rapidly reduce potassium. Infants with diarrhea must be watched closely for low blood potassium, termed hypokalemia. Diabetes and renal disease may cause low as well as high potassium levels. Several drugs can cause hypokalemia-diuretic therapy is of most concern; long-term use of laxatives, aspirin, digitalis, and cortisone may also deplete potassium. Heat waves and profuse sweating can cause potassium loss and lead to dehydration, with potassium leaving the cells along with sodium and being lost in the urine. <so if you are peeing, it's fleeing>

This can generate some of the symptoms associated with low potassium; most people are helped rapidly with potassium supplements or potassium-rich foods. People who consume excess sodium can lose extra urinary potassium, and people who eat lots of sugar also may become low in potassium. <salt? sugar? who? us?>

Fatigue is the most common symptom of chronic potassium deficiency. Early symptoms include muscle weakness, slow reflexes, and dry skin or acne; these initial problems may progress to nervous disorders, insomnia, slow or irregular heartbeat, and loss of gastrointestinal tone.<weak? slow? flakey skin? insomnia? and does loss of GI tone lead to constipation?>

A sudden loss of potassium may lead to cardiac arrythmias. Low potassium may impair glucose metabolism and lead to elevated blood sugar. In more severe potassium deficiency, there can be serious muscle weakness, bone fragility, central nervous system changes, decreased heart rate, and even death. Potassium is the most commonly measured blood mineral in medicine, and deficiencies must be watched for carefully and treated without delay with supplemental potassium.

Requirements: There is no specific RDA for potassium, though it is thought that at least 2-2.5 grams per day are needed, or about 0.8-1.5 grams per 1,000 calories consumed. The average American diet includes from 2-6 grams per day. <This caught my attention. We don't even know how much a healthy person needs! We know that too much or too little will kill you, but that's about it. And we don't know how wide a range is involved. So if 1 gram works for me, it may or may not work for you.>

If you experiment, do remember that too much will kill you, but so will too little. Individual tablets are limited to 99 mg by law in the US, so it takes ten to make up a gram. I'm a big guy and I get benefit from two tablets, so there is a big safety factor at that level. If you find that it works, then you can see your doc and monitor your blood levels until you get stable.