Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide

Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide is a combination of prescription medications used for the treatment of hypertension.

• Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide is available under the following different brand names: Moduretic

Adult dosage

Tablet

• 5mg/50mg

Hypertension

Adult dosage

• 5-10 mg/50-100 mg (amiloride-HCTZ)/day orally

Geriatric dosage

• ½ tablet to 1 tablet/day initially

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

Common side effects of the Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide include:

• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• mild stomach pain, and
• tired feeling

Serious side effects of the Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide include:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• lightheadedness,
• headache,
• confusion,
• slurred speech,
• hallucinations,
• vomiting,
• severe weakness,
• muscle cramps,
• loss of coordination,
• feeling unsteady,
• shallow breathing,
• slow heart rate,
• weak pulse,
• muscle weakness, and
• tingly feeling

Rare side effects of the Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide include:

• none

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur due to the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • aminolevulinic acid oral
  • aminolevulinic acid topical
  • carbamazepine
  • cyclophosphamide
  • cyclosporine
  • dofetilide
  • drospirenone
  • eplerenone
  • isocarboxazid
  • lofexidine
  • methyl aminolevulinate
  • potassium acid phosphate
  • potassium chloride
  • potassium phosphates, IV
  • spironolactone
  • squill
  • tafenoquine
  • tretinoin
  • tretinoin topical
  • triamterene
• Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide has moderate interactions with at least 208 other drugs.
• Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide has minor interactions with at least 163 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to amiloride, HCTZ, or sulfonamides
• Concomitant use with potassium-sparing agents (eg, spironolactone, triamterene)
• Concomitant administration with any form of potassium supplementation
• Acute renal failure or evidence of diabetic nephropathy
• Anuria
• Hyperkalemia (potassium levels above 5.5 mEq/L)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amiloride-Hydrochlorothiazide?”

Cautions

• Avoid use in patients with diabetes; may require adjustments in insulin or oral hypoglycemic treatment; hyperglycemia may occur during administration
• Electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, or hypochloremic alkalosis) may occur
• Triglyceride and cholesterol levels may increase
• May experience an increase in serum urea nitrogen (BUN), or serum creatinine
• Symptoms of lupus erythematosus may exacerbate
• Hydrochlorothiazide may cause acute transient myopia and acute angle-closure glaucoma within hours or weeks of initiating therapy
• Gout symptoms may be precipitated
• Hypersensitivity reactions may occur with or without a history of allergy or bronchial asthma
• Not for administration in patients with acute or chronic renal insufficiency (cumulative drug effects may be observed); diuretics may precipitate azotemia in renal disease
• Use caution in patients in whom respiratory or metabolic acidosis may occur
• Use caution in patients with hepatic impairment; minor alterations of fluid and electrolyte imbalance may precipitate hepatic coma
• The risk of hydrochlorothiazide toxicity may be greater in renal impairment
• Antihypertensive effects of this therapy may be enhanced in post sympathectomy patients

Pregnancy and Lactation

• May be acceptable during pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Excretion in breast milk is unknown. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.