What is Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Amiloride is a potassium sparing-diuretic that also prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.
The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride is used to treat fluid retention (edema) and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Do not use this medication if you have kidney disease, urination problems, diabetes, or high levels of potassium in your blood. Do not use potassium supplements while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, cirrhosis or other liver disease, a breathing disorder, gout, lupus, an allergy to sulfa drugs, or a pancreas disorder. Tell your doctor if you use steroids or other blood pressure medicines.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium. These products could cause your potassium levels to get too high while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
There are many other medicines that can interact with hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide or amiloride, or if you have:
- kidney disease or are unable to urinate
- high potassium levels (hyperkalemia); or
- if you are taking potassium supplements
Before using hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride, tell your doctor if you have:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- cirrhosis or other liver disease
- a breathing disorder
- gout
- lupus
- an allergy to sulfa drugs
- a pancreas disorder; or
- if you are using another blood pressure medication or a steroid
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and could cause harm to a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide Side Effects
What are the possible side effects of Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- numbness or tingly feeling
- muscle pain or weakness
- slow, fast, or uneven heartbeat
- feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed
- urinating less than usual or not at all
- dry mouth, increased thirst, tiredness, nausea, vomiting
- shallow breathing
- tremors, confusion; or
- nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Less serious side effects may include:
- mild nausea or vomiting
- gas, stomach pain; or
- skin rash
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide Interactions
What other drugs affect Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf)
- tacrolimus (Prograf)
- lithium
- digoxin (Lanoxin)
- steroids (prednisone and others)
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth
- an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others
- candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), or valsartan (Diovan); or
- indomethacin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What should I avoid while taking Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
Avoid using other medicines that make you light-headed (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other blood pressure medications.
Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium. These products could cause your potassium levels to get too high while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can make this medication less effective.
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide Dosage
How should I take Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Take hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride with food.
While you are taking this medication, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Your blood and urine may also be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.
Hydrochlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using a thiazide diuretic.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Store the tablets at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture. Do not allow the tablets to freeze.
What happens if I overdose on Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include dizziness, thirst, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, or fainting.
What happens if I miss a dose of Amiloride Hydrochlorothiazide?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com