Amiloride belongs to a class of medications called potassium-sparing diuretics. It works by balancing the amount of salt and water in your body resulting in an increase in the volume of your urine output. Amiloride is a weak diuretic and is used to treat oedema, or as an adjunct to thiazide or loop diuretics when treating high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
Amiloride is taken by mouth as tablets. It should be taken with food. Take diuretics before midday (morning or early afternoon) to avoid excessive urination overnight.
Oedema (monotherapy)
Adult
Initially 10 mg once daily or 5 mg twice daily, adjusted according to response. Maximum dosage is 20 mg daily.
As an adjunct to thiazide or loop diuretics
Adult
Initially 5-10 mg daily.
Common side effects of Amiloride include headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and gas. If you are also taking other blood pressure-lowering medications and have intravascular volume depletion, you may also experience postural hypotension, that is your blood pressure falls when you stand up from sitting or lying down.
Common dosing schedule:
Amiloride should be taken with food. Do not take Amiloride in the late afternoon to avoid going to the toilet while sleeping.
This schedule is for reference only, adjustments may be made according to individual needs.
Some common medications Amiloride may interact with:
Please notify your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the above medication, dosage adjustments might be needed.
In Hong Kong, Amiloride is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.
For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk
Need more information?
For detailed information about the use of Amiloride in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.
Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.
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