What is amiloride?
Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low. Amiloride is used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood). Amiloride may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
| Amiloride HCl 5MG Tablets | PAR | 30/$26.99 or 90/$72.97 |
| Midamor 5MG Tablets | MERCK HUMAN HEALTH | 30/$25.99 or 90/$52.97 |
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What are the possible side effects of amiloride?
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 any of these
serious side effects:
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numbness or tingly feeling;
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muscle pain or weakness;
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slow, fast, or uneven heartbeat;
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feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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dry mouth, increased thirst, tiredness, nausea, vomiting;
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shallow breathing;
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tremors, confusion; or
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Continue using amiloride and talk with your doctor if you have any of
these less serious side effects:
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
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How should I take amiloride?
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. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Take amiloride with food. To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
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What is the most important information I should know about amiloride?
Do not use this medication if you have kidney disease, urination problems, or high levels of potassium in your blood. Do not use potassium supplements or other diuretics while you are taking amiloride. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have heart or liver disease, or a breathing disorder. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of amiloride. Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can make this medication less effective.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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.
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What other drugs will affect amiloride?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf); tacrolimus (Prograf); lithium; an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others; 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.
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Amiloride has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed no evidence of teratogenicity or impaired fertility, although a decrease in rat pup growth and survival was observed at doses 5 or more times the expected maximum daily dose for humans. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Amiloride should only be given during pregnancy when need has been clearly established.
Three cases of amiloride exposure during pregnancy have been reported. In one, gross fetal malformations were reported following a voluntary abortion in a woman who had received amiloride, captopril and propranolol during her first trimester. Since angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are known teratogens, the defects were attributed to captopril.
In two other cases a normal pregnancy and mild intrauterine growth retardation were reported in women treated for Bartter's syndrome and atrial fibrillation, respectively. Both infants were healthy and normal at birth.
There are no data on the excretion of amiloride into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Animal studies have shown that amiloride is excreted into rat milk in concentrations higher than those found in blood.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Anuria, acute or chronic renal insufficiency, diabetic nephropathy.
- Preexisting hyperkalemia (≥5.5 mEq/L).
- Concurrent potassium supplementation (e.g., potassium salts, potassium-containing salt substitutes) except in severe and/or refractory hypokalemia when may be used with careful monitoring of serum potassium concentrations. (See Specific Drugs, Foods, and Laboratory Tests under Interactions.)
- Concurrent therapy with potassium-sparing agents (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene). (See Specific Drugs, Foods, and Laboratory Tests under Interactions.)
- Known hypersensitivity to amiloride or any ingredient in the formulation.
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What does my medication look like?
Amiloride is available with a prescription under the brand name Midamor. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Midamor 5 mg--diamond-shaped, yellow, compressed tablets
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an amiloride overdose may include dizziness, thirst, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, or fainting.
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What should I discuss with my doctor before taking amiloride?
Do not use this medication if you have: kidney disease or are unable to urinate; high potassium levels (hyperkalemia); or if you are taking potassium supplements, or another potassium-sparing diuretic such Moduretic, spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), or triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide). Before using amiloride, tell your doctor if you have: diabetes; heart disease; cirrhosis or other liver disease; a breathing disorder; or if you are using another diuretic. If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use amiloride, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
Even though you may feel better you should not stop taking your high blood pressure medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
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