Amiloride Oral Tablets

What is this medication?

AMILORIDE (a MIL oh ride) is a diuretic. It helps you make more urine and to lose salt and excess water from your body. It helps treat high blood pressure and swelling from heart disease. It also helps treat low potassium levels.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Midamor

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

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

• diabetes
• high levels of potassium in the blood
• kidney or liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to amiloride, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

Take this drug by mouth. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Take it with food. Keep taking it unless your health care provider tells you to stop.

Talk to your health care provider about the use of this drug in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

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 may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• cidofovir
• eplerenone
• potassium supplements
• quinidine
• tranylcypromine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• certain medicines for blood pressure or heart disease like benazepril, lisinopril, losartan, valsartan
• cyclosporine
• dofetilide
• lithium
• NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
• other diuretics
• tacrolimus

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check your blood pressure as directed. Ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be, and when you should contact them.

You may need to be on a special diet while taking this medicine. Ask your doctor. Also, ask how many glasses of fluid you need to drink a day. You must not get dehydrated.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

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

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• chest pain
• confusion
• dark urine
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• nervousness
• numbness, tingling in hands or feet
• trouble passing urine
• unusually weak or tired
• weakness or heaviness of legs
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

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

• change in sex drive or performance
• constipation, or diarrhea
• headache
• loss of appetite
• muscle cramps
• nausea, vomiting
• stomach pain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Throw away any unused drug after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Does amiloride cause weight gain?

Studies haven’t reported weight gain as a side effect of amiloride. Instead, some people experienced nausea or vomiting, which wouldn’t make you feel like eating.

How does amiloride work?

Amiloride interferes with the way sodium (salt) normally moves in certain parts of your body. It keeps your kidneys’ collecting ducts and small tubes from reabsorbing salt. It also reduces the release of potassium.

Salt makes your body hold on to extra fluid and raises your blood pressure. This is why getting rid of salt lowers blood pressure.

Is amiloride a diuretic?

Yes. Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic. This means it makes you produce more pee (urine), but you don’t lose potassium with the extra water and salt that comes out. This is good for people who have a low potassium level and need to increase it. People also use it to prevent a low potassium level.

You usually take amiloride with other blood pressure medicines known as thiazides. This keeps your potassium from getting too high.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

You may be wondering why your healthcare provider prescribed a blood pressure medicine that’s not the same as what your friend or brother takes. Rest assured, there’s a reason different people take different kinds of medicines that do similar things. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the medicines you’re taking. When you know what a specific medicine does, it helps you understand why you’re taking it.