amiloride
Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretics used to prevent low potassium levels in the blood when taken with certain medications that treat high blood pressure or heart failure. It comes in tablet form, taken by mouth once per day with food. Side effects include headache, nausea, and loss of appetite. While it's available as a generic, the brand name Midamor is no longer on the market.
What is Amiloride?
What is Amiloride used for?
- To prevent low potassium levels in the blood when used with certain diuretic medications that treat high blood pressure and heart failure
How Amiloride works
Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It works in the kidneys to remove excess salt and water from your body while keeping potassium levels balanced. This helps lower blood pressure and reduce fluid buildup.
Drug facts
Side effects of Amiloride
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (up to 8%)
- Nausea (up to 8%)
- Loss of appetite (up to 8%)
- Vomiting (up to 8%)
- Diarrhea (up to 8%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Gas or bloating
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Amiloride serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- High potassium levels: nausea, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat
More on Amiloride side effects
The following Amiloride side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Abdominal pain
confusion
difficulty with breathing
irregular heartbeat
nausea or vomiting
nervousness
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
shortness of breath
weakness or heaviness of the legs
Less common
Agitation
back pain
blurred vision
coma
dizziness
drowsiness
hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there)
headache
irritability
labored breathing
mood or mental changes
seizures (convulsions)
stiff neck
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Rare
Arm or jaw pain
bloody or black, tarry stools
burning while urinating
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
change in vision
chest pain, discomfort, or heaviness
chills
clay-colored stools
cold sweats
dark urine
difficult or painful urination
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
fainting
fast, pounding, racing, or slow heartbeat or pulse
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
loss of vision
rash
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
stomach pain, severe
sweating
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
unpleasant breath odor
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
yellow eyes or skin
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Changes in appetite
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
inability to have or keep an erection
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
Rare
Acid or sour stomach
belching
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
discouragement
disturbed color perception
double vision
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
feeling sad or empty
full or bloated feeling
hair loss or thinning of hair
hearing loss
increased need to urinate
increased volume of pale, dilute urine
indigestion
joint pain
leg ache or pain
loss of interest or pleasure
neck or shoulder ache
night blindness
overbright appearance of lights
pain in the chest below the breastbone
passing of gas
passing urine more often
pressure in the stomach
seeing halos around lights
sensation of spinning
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
stomach fullness, discomfort, or upset
swelling of abdominal or stomach area
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
tunnel vision
unable to sleep
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Amiloride
Pros
- Helps prevent low potassium levels in people taking certain diuretics (water-pills)
- Taken by mouth once per day
Cons
- Not a first-choice option for treating high blood pressure if used alone
- Need regular blood tests to check potassium levels
- Not the safest for people with kidney problems
Pharmacist tips for Amiloride
- Take amiloride with food at the same time every day.
- Dizziness is a common side effect of amiloride. It should go away as your body gets used to the medication. If it becomes bothersome or worsens, speak to your prescriber.
- Check your blood pressure at home and keep a log of the readings. Bring it to your appointments so your prescriber can see how well amiloride is working and decide if any changes are needed.
- Try to eat a balanced diet that's low in salt while you're taking amiloride. This can help lower your blood pressure and reduce fluid buildup. Ask your care team for meal planning resources or other ways to manage your blood pressure safely.
- Since amiloride raises your potassium levels, avoid taking potassium supplements and using potassium-containing salt substitutes. Speak to your prescriber about the safest amount of potassium-rich foods for you.
- Contact your prescriber right away if you're pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant while you're taking amiloride. Since there are other recommended blood pressure medications during pregnancy, your prescriber will probably consider a different medication for you.
Common questions about Amiloride
Amiloride can start to lower blood pressure within 2 hours after a dose. You might need to take this medication for a couple weeks to see more consistent changes in your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure at home as instructed by your prescriber. Write down your blood pressure readings and bring them to your appointments. This can help your healthcare team understand how well amiloride is working for you and whether they need to make any changes to your dose.
Weight gain isn't a known side effect of amiloride. In fact, weight loss is more likely to happen because the medication commonly causes nausea and low appetite. But keep in mind that weight gain is a symptom of worsening heart failure. Talk to your prescriber if you notice unexplained changes in your weight after starting amiloride so they can help identify the cause and see if you need a change in your treatment plan.
Both amiloride and spironolactone (Aldactone) are similar. They're both potassium-sparing diuretics that are taken once per day for treating high blood pressure and heart failure. But spironolactone (Aldactone) is also used for people who have swelling from liver or kidney damage as well as a hormone problem called primary aldosteronism. Studies suggest they work just as well as each other. Talk to your cardiologist if you have more questions comparing these two medications.
No, amiloride and amlodipine (Norvasc) are two completely different medications. Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic, whereas amlodipine (Norvasc) is a calcium channel blocker. They both treat high blood pressure, but work differently from each other. Your prescriber might have you take both of them together if your blood pressure isn't controlled with either medication alone.
Yes, amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide can be taken together. Your cardiologist might have you take both medications if your blood pressure isn't controlled by either medication alone. There's also a combination product that combines amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide into a single pill.
Amiloride isn't FDA-approved to treat low magnesium, or hypomagnesemia. But because amiloride raises magnesium levels, it might be a choice for people who get low magnesium from other types of diuretics (water pills). Speak with your prescriber if you have more questions about this medication and hypomagnesemia.
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Risks and warnings for Amiloride
Amiloride can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
High potassium levels
- Risk factors: Kidney problems | Conditions that affect kidney function | Diabetes | Taking other medications that raise potassium levels | Using potassium-based salt substitutes | Older adults
Amiloride can raise the amount of potassium in your blood, which can sometimes be dangerous. Your risk is greater if you have diabetes, kidney problems, or if you're taking other medications that also raise potassium levels. For this reason, make sure your prescriber knows your full medical history and the medications you're taking before you start treatment. You'll also want to avoid using potassium-based salt substitutes in your food. Tell a healthcare professional right away if you have signs of high potassium levels, such as nausea, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, or a numbing or tingling feeling.
Amiloride dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg | 90 tablets | $17.86 | $0.20 |
Typical dosage for Amiloride
The typical dose is 5 mg or 10 mg by mouth once per day with food. But doses as high as 20 mg per day might be needed in certain situations.
Interactions between Amiloride and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Alacepril
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Arginine
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Aspirin
- Benazepril
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bupropion
- Captopril
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Cilazapril
- Clonixin
- Delapril
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Dofetilide
- Droperidol
- Droxicam
- Enalaprilat
- Enalapril Maleate
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Fosinopril
- Ibuprofen
- Imidapril
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Levomethadyl
- Lisinopril
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Moexipril
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Pentopril
- Perindopril
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piroxicam
- Potassium
- Potassium Phosphate
- Pranoprofen
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Quinapril
- Ramipril
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sotalol
- Spirapril
- Sulindac
- Temocapril
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Trandolapril
- Trimethoprim
- Valdecoxib
- Zofenopril
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Carbenoxolone
- Gossypol
- Licorice
- Quinidine
How much does Amiloride cost?
$17.86
Amiloride contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Amiloride will not be safe for you to take.
- High potassium levels (greater than 5.5 mEq/L)
- Taking other medications or supplements that raise potassium levels
- Kidney problems, including those caused by diabetes
- Allergy to potassium-sparing diuretics
What are alternatives to Amiloride?
Amiloride images
