Amiloride tablets

What are amiloride tablets?

AMILORIDE (Midamor®) is a diuretic (water or fluid pill). Diuretics increase the amount of urine passed, which causes the body to lose water and salt. Amiloride is known as a potassium-sparing diuretic. It does not increase potassium loss, as many other diuretics do, and is useful for treating patients with low levels of potassium. Increased water loss helps to treat high blood pressure and swelling caused by heart disease. Amiloride can be used in combination with other medicines to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Generic amiloride tablets are available.

What should my health care professional know before I take amiloride?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• diabetes

• elderly patient over 65 years old

• high levels of potassium in the blood

• kidney disease, passing very little urine

• liver disease

• low levels of sodium in the blood

• an unusual or allergic reaction to amiloride, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take amiloride tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Take amiloride with food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Remember that you will need to pass urine frequently after taking amiloride. Do not take your doses at a time of day that will cause you problems. Do not take at bedtime.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with amiloride?

• antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)

• cyclosporine

• digoxin

• dofetilide

• heparin

• lithium

• medicines for high blood pressure or heart failure (ACE inhibitors such as enalapril or ramipril; angiotensin II blockers such as losartan or valsartan; and others)

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Azilect®, Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®, Zelapar™)

• potassium salts

• water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking amiloride?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check your blood pressure regularly. Ask your prescriber or health care professional what your blood pressure should be, and when you should contact him or her. Amiloride taken for high blood pressure or fluid retention is not a cure. Amiloride will only control your blood pressure for as long as you continue to take it; do not stop taking amiloride except on your prescriber's advice.

Watch your diet while you are taking amiloride. Ask your prescriber or health care professional about both potassium and sodium intake. Avoid salt-substitutes and nutritional supplements which contain potassium, unless your prescriber or health care professional tells you otherwise. Too much potassium can be very harmful. You may need to avoid foods that are high in potassium such as bananas, coconuts, dates, figs, prunes, apricots, peaches, grapefruit juice, tomato juice, and orange juice.

Alcohol can make you lightheaded, dizzy and increase confusion. Avoid or limit intake of alcohol while you are taking amiloride.

What side effects may I notice from taking amiloride?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• confusion

• dark yellow or brown urine

• decreased or increased amount of urine passed

• difficult breathing

• fast or irregular heartbeat, palpitations, chest pain

• nervousness

• numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips

• pain or difficulty passing urine

• unusual tiredness or weakness

• weakness or heaviness of legs

• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• blurred vision

• dizziness or lightheadedness

• headache

• loss of appetite

• muscle cramps

• nausea, vomiting

• sexual difficulty (impotence)

• skin rash, itching

• stomach cramps

• constipation, or diarrhea

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Protect from moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.