Amiloride (By mouth)
a-MIL-oh-ride
Treats congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and other conditions such as low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia). This medicine is a diuretic (water pill).
Drug classes
Cardiovascular Agent (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Amiloride is used in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled .
Amiloride is also used to treat water retention (edema) in patients with congestive heart failure .
Amiloride is a type of diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from losing too much potassium. It reduces the amount of water in the body by increasing the flow of urine, which helps lower the blood pressure .
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription .
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
It is best to take this medicine with food. Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about any special diet.
This medicine is usually given in combination with other diuretics. Not all diuretics work the same way. Some types of diuretic can cause serious medical problems if you take them with amiloride. Take only the medicines your doctor has prescribed as part of your combination treatment.
Never share your medicine with anyone.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using cyclosporine (Neoral®, Sandimmune®), dofetilide (Tikosyn™), lithium, tacrolimus (Prograf®), blood pressure medicine (such as Accupril®, Altace®, Capoten®, Lotensin®, Lotrel®, Monopril®, Prinivil®, Univasc®, Vasotec®, Zestril®), or pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, Advil®, Aleve®, Motrin®, Orudis®, Relafen®).
Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to amiloride, or if you are unable to urinate or have kidney disease or high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia). You should not use this medicine if you are also taking similar diuretics such as triamterene (Dyazide®, Dyrenium®, Maxzide®) or spironolactone (Aldactazide®, Aldactone®).
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have diabetes or liver disease.
This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine.
If you stop using this medicine, your blood pressure may go up. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Even if you feel well, do not stop using the medicine without asking your doctor.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Chest pain (may be related to your disease and not a side effect)
Confusion, weakness, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting
Fever, chills, cough, hoarseness
Problems urinating, pain in side or lower back
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Mild nausea, vomiting, gas, or stomach pain
Problems having sex
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Midamor
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
