Health Centres - Amiloride
How does it work?
Amiloride tablets and oral solution contain the active ingredient amiloride, which is a type of medicine called a potassium-sparing diuretic. (Diuretics are sometimes referred to as ‘water tablets’).
Diuretics work by causing the kidneys to increase the amount of salts such as sodium that are filtered out of the blood and into the urine. When these salts are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, water is also drawn alongside. As diuretics increase the removal of salts from the blood, they also cause more water to be drawn out of the blood and into the urine.
Removing water from the blood decreases the volume of fluid circulating through the blood vessels. This subsequently decreases the pressure within the blood vessels. Diuretics are therefore used to lower high blood pressure.
As diuretics remove fluid from the body, they are also used to treat conditions where excess fluid has been retained in the body (oedema). In heart failure for example, fluid can accumulate in the lungs, causing shortness of breath. Diuretics are used to help the body remove this excess fluid and therefore relieve the symptoms of heart failure. The decreased pressure in the blood vessels caused by the diuretic also decreases the effort required by the heart to pump blood around the body, which is useful in heart failure where the pumping mechanism of the heart is less effective.
The loss of fluid caused by diuretics is also used to remove excess fluid that can accumulate in people with cirrhosis of the liver. This fluid may accumulate in the abdomen (ascites) or in the legs (oedema).
Amiloride has a weak diuretic effect when used on its own, hence it is usually used in combination with other diuretics. Most other diuretics cause the amount of potassium in the blood to drop. Amiloride doesn't have this effect, as it is a 'potassium-sparing' diuretic. It is usually added to diuretic treatment to prevent excessive amounts of potassium from being lost.
What is it used for?
- Excess fluid accumulation (oedema), usually in combination with other diuretics to prevent potassium loss
-
High blood pressure
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Congestive heart failure
-
Liver cirrhosis, with collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity
Warning!
- It is recommended that people taking this medicine have their fluid and salt (electrolyte) balance monitored regularly.
- If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine you should inform your doctor promptly, so that the amount of fluids and salts in your body can be checked: thirst, lethargy, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, muscle cramps, scanty production of urine, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, nausea and vomiting.
Use with caution in
- Elderly people
- Decreased kidney function
- Decreased liver function
-
Diabetes mellitus
- High blood uric acid level (hyperuricaemia)
- Imbalance of salt concentrations in the blood (electrolyte imbalance)
- Increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis)
- Women who could become pregnant
Not to be used in
- Children under 18 years of age
- High levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia)
- Failure of the kidneys to produce urine (anuria)
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Kidney failure
-
Diabetic kidney disease
- Severe progressive kidney disease
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Consult your doctor for further advice.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)
- Low blood sodium level (hyponatraemia)
- Impotence
- Muscle cramps
- Visual disturbances
- Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
- High blood potassium level (hyperkalaemia)
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Rash
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
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