Formulary
Amiloride hydrochloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Amiloride hydrochloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Amiloride hydrochloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Amiloride hydrochloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Oedema (monotherapy)**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Initially 10 mg daily, alternatively initially 5 mg twice daily, adjusted according to response; maximum 20 mg per day.
**Potassium conservation when used as an adjunct to thiazide or loop diuretics**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): for hepatic cirrhosis with ascites Initially 5 mg daily.
**Adjunct to thiazide or loop diuretics for oedema in heart failure, and hepatic disease (where potassium conservation desirable) for amiloride hydrochloride**
- **Neonate** (By mouth): 100-200 micrograms/kg twice daily.
- **Child 1 month-11 years** (By mouth): 100-200 micrograms/kg twice daily; maximum 20 mg per day.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 5-10 mg twice daily.
Cautions
Diabetes mellitus; elderly
Contraindications
Addison's disease; anuria; hyperkalaemia
Side effects
Frequency not known Alopecia; angina pectoris; aplastic anaemia; appetite decreased; arrhythmia; arthralgia; asthenia; atrioventricular block exacerbated; bladder spasm; chest pain; confusion; constipation; cough; depression; diarrhoea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; dyspnoea; dysuria; electrolyte imbalance; encephalopathy; gastrointestinal discomfort; gastrointestinal disorders; gastrointestinal haemorrhage; gout; headache; insomnia; jaundice; muscle cramps; nasal congestion; nausea; nervousness; neutropenia; pain; palpitations; paraesthesia; postural hypotension; sexual dysfunction; skin reactions; tinnitus; tremor; vertigo; visual impairment; vomiting
Interactions
**Other interactions (16):**
- Alcohol: Postural hypotension associated with diuretic therapy may be enhanced.
- Analgesics: Diuretics increase the risk of nephrotoxicity with NSAIDs.
- Indometacin and possibly other NSAIDs increase the risk of hyperkalaemia with potassium-sparing diuretics.
- Indometacin and ketorolac antagonise the diuretic effect.
- Antidepressants: increased risk of postural hypotension with tricyclics.
- Antidiabetic agents: Chlorpropamide increases the risk of hyponatraemia associated with thiazides in combination with potassium sparing diuretics.
Pregnancy
Not to be used to treat gestational hypertension.
Breast feeding
Manufacturer advises avoid-no information available.
Renal impairment
Manufacturers advise avoid in severe impairment. Monitoring Monitor plasma-potassium concentration (high risk of hyperkalaemia in renal impairment).
Medicinal forms
Solution,Tablet,Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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