Amiloride

Generic name: Amiloride
Brand names: Midamor
Dosage form: oral tablet (5 mg)
Drug class: Potassium-sparing diuretics

Usage of Amiloride

Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.

Amiloride is used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) in people with high blood pressure or congestive heart failure.

Amiloride is usually given together with other medicines.

Amiloride may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Amiloride side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking amiloride and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • increased thirst, decreased urination;
  • heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;
  • tremors, confusion, loss of consciousness;
  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
  • high potassium--tiredness, numbness or tingling, slow or unusual heart rate, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or
  • low levels of sodium in the body--headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

    • Common side effects of amiloride may include:

  • nausea, stomach pain, gas, loss of appetite;
  • headache; or
  • rash.

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Amiloride

    You should not use amiloride if you are allergic to it, or if:

  • you have kidney disease or are unable to urinate;
  • you have problems with your kidneys caused by diabetes;
  • you have high potassium levels (hyperkalemia);
  • you take a potassium supplement; or
  • you take another potassium-sparing diuretic such Moduretic, spironolactone, or triamterene.

    • To make sure amiloride is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • diabetes;
  • heart disease;
  • breathing problems;
  • cirrhosis or other liver disease;
  • if you are on a low-salt diet; or
  • if you are severely ill or debilitated.

    • Amiloride is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

    It is not known whether amiloride passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

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    How to use Amiloride

    Usual Adult Dose for Ascites:

    Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

    Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

    Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

    Usual Adult Dose for Edema:

    Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

    Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

    Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

    Warnings

    You should not use amiloride if you have kidney problems, if you are unable to urinate, or if you have high levels of potassium in your blood. Do not use potassium supplements or other diuretics while you are taking amiloride.

    Amiloride can raise the levels of potassium in your blood. You will need frequent blood tests while taking amiloride.

    Call your doctor right away if you have unusual tiredness, numbness or tingling, slow heartbeats, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

    What other drugs will affect Amiloride

    Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • lithium;
  • medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection--cyclosporine, tacrolimus;
  • an ACE inhibitor (angiotensin converting enzyme)--benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinipril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, or trandolapril;
  • heart or blood pressure medication--azilsartan, candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan; or
  • NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

    • This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amiloride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

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