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Amiloride

 
Drug Info: Amiloride

Brand names: Midamor®

Chemical formula:



Amiloride Hydrochloride Oral tablet

What is this medicine?

AMILORIDE (a MIL oh ride) is a diuretic. It helps you make more urine and to lose excess water from your body. This medicine is used in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure.
 
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•diabetes
•high levels of potassium in the blood
•kidney or liver disease
•an unusual or allergic reaction to amiloride, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take with food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on the advice of your doctor or health care professional.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is less than four hours to your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
•eplerenone
•potassium sparing diuretics like spironolactone and triamterene
•quinidine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
•antiinflammatory drugs, NSAIDs like ibuprofen
•cyclosporine
•lithium
•medicines for high blood pressure or heart failure
•potassium supplements
•tacrolimus

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check your blood pressure as directed. Ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be, and when you should contact them.

You may need to be on a special diet while taking this medicine. Ask your doctor. Also, ask how many glasses of fluid you need to drink a day. You must not get dehydrated.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•breathing problems
•chest pain
•confusion
•dark urine
•fast or irregular heartbeat
•nervousness
•numbness, tingling in hands or feet
•trouble passing urine
•unusually weak or tired
•weakness or heaviness of legs
•yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•change in sex drive or performance
•constipation, or diarrhea
•headache
•loss of appetite
•muscle cramps
•nausea, vomiting
•stomach pain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Protect from moisture, freezing and excessive heat. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

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Veterinary Dictionary: amiloride
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A potassium-sparing diuretic.

Wikipedia: Amiloride
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Amiloride
Systematic (IUPAC) name
3,5-diamino-6-chloro-N-(diaminomethylene)pyrazine-2-carboxamide
Identifiers
CAS number 2016-88-8
ATC code C03DB01
PubChem 16231
DrugBank APRD00790
ChemSpider 15403
Chemical data
Formula C6H8ClN7O 
Mol. mass 229.627 g/mol
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability Readily absorbed
Metabolism none
Half life 6 to 9 hours
Excretion unchanged in urine
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

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Legal status
Routes oral
 Yes check.svgY(what is this?)  (verify)

Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic, first approved for use in 1967 (then known as MK 870), used in the management of hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Contents

Structure

Amiloride is a guanidinium group containing pyrazine derivative.

Mechanism of action

Amiloride works by directly blocking the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) thereby inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts in the kidneys (this mechanism is the same for triamterene). This promotes the loss of sodium and water from the body, but without depleting potassium. The drug is often used in conjunction with thiazide (e.g. co-amilozide) or loop diuretics (e.g. co-amilofruse). Due to its potassium-sparing capacities, hyperkalemia (high blood potassium levels) are occasionally observed in patients taking amiloride. The risk is high in concurrent use of ACE inhibitors or spironolactone. Patients are also advised not to use potassium-containing salt replacements.[1] Amiloride also carries the risk of developing an acidosis.

A fraction of the effects of amiloride is inhibition of cyclic GMP-gated cation channels in the inner medullary collecting duct.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ LoSalt Advisory Statement (PDF)
  2. ^ Walter F., PhD. Boron. Medical Physiology: A Cellular And Molecular Approaoch. Elsevier/Saunders. ISBN 1-4160-2328-3.  page 875

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Amiloride" Read more