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Amiloride

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Amiloride belongs to a class of medications called Diuretics. It works on your kidneys to get rid of extra water and salts in your body.

This medication is used to remove excess fluid from your body. This will decrease the pressure on the blood vessels and allow the heart to work less hard. Hence, it may also be used to treat high blood pressure.

How should I take or use this medication?

Do not stop taking your medication without first checking with your healthcare professional.
If you are taking one dose a day, take it in the morning. If you are taking the medication two times a day, take the second dose before 4pm so that you do not need to wake up often at night to pass urine.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only the usual dose. Do not double your dose or use extra medication to make up for the missed dose.

Related: Know Your Medication

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are allergic to any other medications, especially sulfonamide medicines (e.g. Bactrim)
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
You have any problems with the way your kidneys work

What are some common side effects of this medication?

Some side effects may include:

Passing urine more often, dry mouth, increased thirst

Too much water loss may result in dehydration. Inform your doctor if you are always feeling thirsty, tired, or you have muscle cramps.
Drinking excessive amounts of water to replace your water loss or because you feel thirsty may lead to your heart condition becoming worse. Discuss with your healthcare professional about the amount of fluids you may take each day.

Dizziness and lightheadedness

This may occur especially when you get up quickly from lying or sitting down. Getting up slowly or changing posture slowly may help. Take a rest by sitting or lying down if you feel dizzy.

Affect your mineral levels in your blood

This medication may increase your potassium level. Your doctor may monitor your potassium levels regularly when you are on this medication.

Inform your healthcare professional if these side effects do not go away and become bothersome to you.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Related: Guidelines on Taking Medicine

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children. Throw away all expired medications.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on July 2019

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This article was last reviewed on Monday, September 13, 2021