Amiloride may infrequently cause high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia). If left untreated, hyperkalemia may rarely be fatal. Hyperkalemia is more likely to occur when amiloride is used alone, in the elderly, or in people with kidney problems or diabetes. It is very important to have your blood potassium levels checked from time to time while taking this medication, especially at first. If your doctor changes your dose of any of the other medications that may be used with amiloride, or if you develop new medical problems that affect your kidneys, you may need to have your blood potassium level checked more frequently. Keep all medical and laboratory appointments. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following unlikely but serious side effects: muscle weakness, slow heartbeat, tingling of the hands/feet, unusual tiredness.

Amiloride is used with hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), certain heart problems (congestive heart failure), or swelling (edema) that may be caused by severe liver problems.

Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

This medication is a "water pill" (diuretic) that works by increasing the amount of urine you make, allowing your body to get rid of extra salt and water. Amiloride also prevents the kidneys from getting rid of too much potassium.

OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This drug may also be used to treat an overactive adrenal gland (hyperaldosteronism), to treat kidney stones, or to treat frequent urination caused by another drug (lithium).

Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily with food or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your age, medical condition and response to therapy.

It is best to avoid taking this medication within 4 hours of your bedtime to avoid having to get up to urinate. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dosing schedule.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. It may take up to several weeks before the full benefit of this drug takes effect.

Do not stop taking this medication without first consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

Inform your doctor if your condition worsens (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase).

See also the Warning section.

Except for high potassium levels, side effects with amiloride are infrequent and usually occur due to the effects of other diuretics used along with this medication. Consult the Side Effects information for the other diuretics as well as any other drugs you are using. If you have any questions or notice any persistent or serious side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Headache, dizziness, nausea, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or gas may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

When given with water pills that cause potassium loss, this product may cause too much body water and salts to be lost (dehydration). Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these unlikely but serious symptoms of dehydration: very dry mouth, thirst, muscle cramps, weakness, fast heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, severe dizziness, confusion, unusual decrease in the amount of urine, fainting, seizures.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., nervousness, depression), decreased sexual ability, shortness of breath, vision problems.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), severe stomach pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black/bloody stools.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking amiloride, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: lack of urine production (anuria), severe kidney problems (e.g., acute or chronic renal insufficiency, diabetic nephropathy), high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: diabetes, severe liver problems (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy), heart disease, untreated blood salt problems (e.g., low sodium), other kidney problems.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.

To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Significant loss of body water from too much sweating, vomiting or diarrhea can also lower your blood pressure and worsen dizziness. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent these effects. If you are on restricted fluid intake, consult your doctor for further instructions.

This drug may raise your blood potassium levels. This may rarely cause serious side effects such as muscle weakness or a slow/irregular heartbeat. Tell your doctor immediately if these effects occur. Limit foods high in potassium such as bananas and potatoes. Do not take potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium unless approved by your doctor.

Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially dizziness.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast feeding.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: tacrolimus.

If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting amiloride.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: digoxin, lithium, drugs that may be harmful to your kidneys (e.g., cyclosporine), other products that may increase potassium levels (e.g., eplerenone, spironolactone, triamterene, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, ACE inhibitors including benazepril and captopril, angiotensin receptor antagonists including losartan and valsartan).

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, clemastine, ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

This product can affect the results of certain lab tests (glucose tolerance testing). Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not share this medication with others.

Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney function tests and blood salt levels) should be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Have your blood pressure and heart rate checked regularly while taking this medication. Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure and heart rate at home, and share the readings with your doctor.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised July 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.