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Triamterene

 
Drug Info: Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Triamterene
 

Brand names: Dyazide®Maxzide®

Chemical formula:





Hydrochlorothiazide, Triamterene Oral tablet

What is this medicine?

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE; TRIAMTERENE is a diuretic. It helps you to make more urine and to lose the extra water from your body. This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure and edema or swelling from excess water.

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
•immune system problems, like lupus
•kidney disease or stones
•liver disease
•small amount of urine or difficulty passing urine
•an unusual or allergic reaction to triamterene, hydrochlorothiazide, sulfa drugs, 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 your prescription label. You may take this medicine with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Remember that you will need to pass urine frequently after taking this medicine. Do not take your doses at a time of day that will cause you problems. Do not take at bedtime.

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 may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
•eplerenone

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
•cyclosporine
•heart medicines like ACE inhibitors, digoxin, dofetilide, eplerenone, angiotensin II antagonists, and medicines for blood pressure
•lithium
•medicines for diabetes
•medicines for inflammation like indomethacin
•medicines that relax muscles for surgery
•other diuretics
•potassium
•sotalol
•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 check ups. You will need lab work done before you start this medicine and regularly while you are taking it. Check your blood pressure regularly. Ask your health care professional what your blood pressure should be, and when you should contact them. If you are a diabetic, check your blood sugar as directed. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

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 or limit alcoholic drinks.

This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.

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 such as skin rash or itching, hives, swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
•fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain
•feeling faint or dizzy
•gout attack
•muscle pain or cramps
•numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
•pain or difficulty when passing urine
•redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
•shortness of breath
•unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•blurred vision
•decreased sexual function
•dry mouth
•headache
•stomach upset

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 between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from light. 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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A weak diuretic which increases sodium and chloride excretion, but not potassium.

 
Wikipedia: Triamterene
Top
Triamterene
Systematic (IUPAC) name
6-phenylpteridine-2,4,7-triamine
Identifiers
CAS number 396-01-0
ATC code C03DB02
PubChem 5546
DrugBank APRD00079
Chemical data
Formula C12H11N7 
Mol. mass 253.263 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 30-70% depending on formulation
Protein binding 97%
Metabolism Liver/renal
Half life 1-2 hours, active metabolite 3 hours
Excretion urine/bile/feces
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

B (manufacturer), D (expert opinion)

Legal status

prescription

Routes oral

Triamterene (trade name Dyrenium) is a potassium-sparing diuretic used in combination with thiazide diuretics for the treatment of hypertension and edema.

Contents

Mechanism of action

Triamterene directly blocks the epithelial sodium channel[1] (ENaC) on the lumen side of the kidney collecting tubule. Other diuretics cause a decrease in the sodium concentration of the forming urine due to the entry of sodium into the cell via the ENaC, and the concomitant exit of potassium from the principal cell into the forming urine. Blocking ENaC prevents this from happening. Amiloride works in the same way. Sodium channel blockers directly inhibit the entry of sodium into the sodium channels.

Side effects

Common side effects may include a depletion of sodium, folic acid and calcium, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and dry mouth. Serious side effects may include heart palpitations, tingling/numbness, fever, chills, sore throat, rash, and back pain. Triamterene can also cause kidney stones through direct crystallization or by seeding calcium oxalate stones. Triamterene is best avoided in patients with chronic kidney disease due to the possibility of hyperkalemia. People using this drug should use salt substitute cautiously.[2]

Triamterene may impart a blue fluorescent color to the urine.

Caution with certain disease states

Diabetes: Use with caution in patients with prediabetes or diabetes mellitus as there may be a change in glucose control.

Hepatic impairment: Use with caution in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction; in cirrhosis, avoid electrolyte and acid/base imbalances that might lead to hepatic encephalopathy.

Kidney stones: Use with caution in patients with kidney stones.

Use should be avoided if the creatinine clearance is less than 10 ml/minute.

Use in Ménière's disease

While there is a lack of randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of triamterene in the treatment of Ménière's disease, the typical treatment is 37.5 mg of triamterene with 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide 1-2 capsules daily.[3][4] This recommendation was given a grade of C (see http://www.aafp.org/afpsort.xml for information about the SORT evidence rating system).

References

  1. ^ Busch AE, Suessbrich H, Kunzelmann K, et al. (September 1996). "Blockade of epithelial Na+ channels by triamterenes - underlying mechanisms and molecular basis". Pflugers Arch. 432 (5): 760–6. PMID 8772124. http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00424/bibs/6432005/64320760.htm. 
  2. ^ LoSalt Advisory Statement (PDF)
  3. ^ Swartz R, Longwell P. Treatment of Vertigo. Am Fam Physician 2005 Mar 15;71(6)1115-1122.
  4. ^ Sloane PD, Coeytaux RR, Beck RS, Dallara J. Dizziness: state of science. Ann Intern Med. 2001 May 1;134 (9, part 2 suppl):823-832

External links


 
 
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Triamterene
Triamterene capsules
Diuretics

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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 GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Triamterene" Read more