Amiloride-oral

This medication can cause high potassium levels (hyperkalemia). This effect is more likely to occur in older adults and in patients with kidney disease, diabetes, or a serious illness. Potassium levels must be closely monitored on a regular basis while taking this medication. If not treated, very high potassium levels can sometimes be fatal. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any symptoms of high potassium levels, including muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat, numb/tingling skin.

Amiloride is used with other "water pills"/diuretics (such as furosemide, thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide) to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, or extra fluid in the body (edema). Amiloride also helps to treat or prevent low blood potassium levels caused by the other diuretics. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.Amiloride is called a "water pill" (diuretic) and causes your body to get rid of extra salt and water while also preventing the kidneys from getting rid of too much potassium.

Take this medication by mouth with food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor.If you take this drug too close to bedtime, you may need to wake up to urinate. Therefore, it is best to take this medication at least 4 hours before your bedtime. If you have any questions about how and when to take this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens (such as your blood pressure readings remain high or increase).

See also Precautions section.The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring.To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval.Some products that may interact with this drug include: lithium, sodium phosphate products, other products that may increase potassium levels (such as eplerenone, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, birth control pills containing drospirenone, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone/triamterene, ACE inhibitors like benazepril/captopril, angiotensin receptor antagonists like losartan/valsartan).Check the labels on all your medicines (such as cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure (such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine) or reduce the effect of this medication (such as ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including glucose tolerance testing), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use. Share this list with your doctor and pharmacist to lessen your risk for serious medication problems.

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness, fainting, slow/irregular heartbeat.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Protect from freezing. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

From

Heart Health Resources

• Hypertension Can Hurt Your Eyes
• Your Medications and Hearing Loss
• Caring for Your New Kidney

Featured Centers

• 13 Best Quit-Smoking Tips Ever
• What Stress Does to Your Mouth
• Healthy Home: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic?

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

• Frequent Constipation?
• Greater Food Accessibility

Reviewed on 4/16/2014 References