Amiloride

Amiloride is an antihypertensive, a potassium-sparing diuretic that was first approved for use in 1967 and helps to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Amiloride works by inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts in the kidneys. This promotes the loss of sodium and water from the body, but without depleting potassium. The drug is often used in conjunction with thiazide or loop diuretics. Due to its potassium-sparing capacities, hyperkalemia (high blood potassium levels) are occasionally observed in patients taking amiloride. The risk is high in concurrent use of ACE inhibitors or spironolactone. Patients are also advised not to use potassium-containing salt replacements.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Antihypertensive: Antihypertensives are a class of drugs that are used In medicine and pharmacology to treat hypertension....

Potassium: Potassium is a chemical element in the periodic table. It has the symbol K (L. kalium) and atomic number 19. The name "potassium" comes from the word "potash", as potassium was first isolated from potash. Potassium is a soft silvery-white metallic alkali metal that occurs naturally bound to other e...

Diuretic: A diuretic is any drug that tends to increase the flow of urine from the body (diuresis). They also decrease the extracellular fluid volume, and are primarily used to produce a negative extracellular fluid balance. Some common diuretics are caffeine, cranberry juice and alcohol....