What is Triamterene?
This medication is taken to decrease edema or extra fluid in the body resulted by such conditions as kidney and liver problems and congestive heart failure. Its intake helps patients breathe easier and reduce swelling. Basically, Triamterene belongs to water pills or potassium-sparing diuretics, and it works by boosting the urine amount, thus, allowing the human body to eliminate extra water and salt while preventing kidneys from eliminating too much potassium. Some doctors also prescribe this medicine to treat hypertension as a part of a treatment plan.
Recommendations for Use
Use Triamterene orally after your meals to decrease possible upset stomach. Most doctors prescribe to take it either once or twice a day, but it’s advisable to avoid its intake 4 hours before the bedtime to avoid waking up at night to urinate. Your regular doses should be based on individual tolerance and condition, but it’s not allowed to take more than 300 mg a day. Triamterene may rarely increase potassium blood levels, so talk to doctors before taking other products that contain this chemical. Besides, avoid increasing its amount in your diet and take this medicine to get it full benefit. Ensure that you don’t stop taking Triamterene abruptly, because your regular doses should be decreased gradually.
Precautions and Contraindications
Its intake increases potassium blood levels, so be aware of such symptoms as unusual muscle weakness and irregular heartbeats. This unwanted effect is more likely to happen among older patients and people with diabetes, kidney problems and other serious diseases. Before using Triamterene, tell doctors if you have any allergies and such conditions as liver and kidney issues, high potassium levels, untreated mineral and salt imbalances, severe dehydration, gout, diabetes and some others.
Sometimes, this treatment makes patients more sensitive to direct sunlight, so they should avoid any prolonged sun exposure and use special sunscreen. Using Triamterene may make them dizzy, so users shouldn’t drive or perform other activities that require them to stay alert. Avoid drinking too much alcohol and drink enough water to avoid dehydration. Older patients are more prone to its side effects, especially high potassium levels. To avoid the risk of lightheadedness and dizziness, get up slowly when rising from any lying or sitting position.
Drug Interactions
There are certain medications that shouldn’t be combined with Triamterene to avoid possible drug interactions. Don’t take it with such pharmaceutical products as potassium-containing supplements, salt substitutes, other potassium-sparing meds, diuretics and some others. Be cautious when using this medicine with such drugs as ACE inhibitors, lithium, ARBs, NSAIDs and ibuprofen. Its use may have an impact on the results of specific lab tests, too.
Side Effects
Like many other meds, Triamterene may cause certain side effects, including upset stomach, headaches, dizziness, diarrhea and unusual tiredness. Some patients also suffer from increased sensitivity to the sun. If any of these symptoms become troubling, contact your physician at once. Most users don’t experience any severe side effects when undergoing this treatment, but if you notice them, go to the hospital immediately. They include severe dehydration, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeats, severe dizziness, allergic reactions, painful urination, fever, persistent vomiting or nausea, fainting, seizures, confusion, yellow eyes and urine changes.