Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide combination is used alone or with other medicines to treat water retention (edema) or high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks.
These problems may not occur if blood pressure is controlled. Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide are both diuretic medicines (water pills). They reduce the amount of water in the body by increasing the flow of urine, which helps lower the blood pressure. Triamterene helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.
The decision on how to use medicines has to be made with consideration of the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This decision must be reached by you and your doctor. To be able to use this medicine, the following should be considered:
Inform your medical doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines.
Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
On the other hand, appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide combination in the pediatric population.
Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Moreover, no information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide combination in geriatric patients.
However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney problems and high blood potassium (hyperkalemia), which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.
Pregnancy. Studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women or no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below.
The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. They include:
Amiloride
Dofetilide
Eplerenone
Spironolactone
Use of this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Other Interactions. May also occur as a result of the interaction of the medicine with food or other drugs. These medicines must never be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco may also cause interactions to occur with these medicines. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and never all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Potassium Containing Food
Other Medical Problems. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially Anuria (not able to pass urine) or Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) or Kidney problems (e.g., kidney failure), severe or Sulfa drug allergy (e.g., sulfamethoxazole, Bactrim, Septra).Should not be used in patients with these conditions of diabetes or weakened immune system and severe.
It may also increase risk for more serious medical problems such as hyperkalemia and acidosis metabolic acidosis. Electrolyte imbalance or Glaucoma, secondary angle closure or Gout or Heart failure or Heart rhythm problems (e.g., arrhythmia), history of or Hyperuricemia (high uric acid in the blood) or Hypochloremia (low chloride in the blood) or Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) or Kidney stones, history of or Liver disease (cirrhosis) or Parathyroid disease. It is advisable to use these medicines with caution since they may make this condition worse.
3 Proper Usage
This medicine must not be used as the first line treatment for your medical condition. It is selected for use after other medicines have been tried and have not worked or have caused unwanted side effects. In addition, in order to use this medicine in the management of high blood pressure, it may also include weight control and changes in the types of foods that is eaten such as those that contain high levels of sodium salt. Your medical doctor will inform you which of them the most important medicine is for you.
It is advisable to check with your medical doctor before executing any change of diet. Many of the patients that have high blood pressure may not be able to notice any signs of the problems. In many cases, they will feel normal. Take your medicine only as directed by your medical doctor and keep regular appointments with your doctor even when your feel well. This medicines may also not be able to cure your high blood pressure but will be useful in helping to control it. Continue to use the medicines as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep them down.
This may also indicate that you have to take blood pressure medicines for the rest of your life. When the blood pressure is not treated, it may cause serious problems such as failure in the functioning of the heart, blood vessels disease, stroke, or and kidney disease. The dose of the medicines will vary from one patient to another. Follow the instructions of your doctor and also as instructed in the drug label. The medical information provided here only includes doses of this medicines and when your dose is different, never change the dose unless advised by your medical doctor.
The amount of the medicine used also depends on the strength of the medicine. It also relies on the number of the doses that one takes every day and times allowed between doses and the length of time you take the medicine relies in the nature of the medical problem for which the medicine is being used for. Oral dosages in the form of capsules may be used for management of hypertension or edema. In adults, only one or two capsules once a day. In children, use and dose of the medicine must be determined by your doctor. In case of missed doses, take the medicine soonest possible.
However, when it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule. Never double the doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture and direct sun light. Keep it far from freezing and from children. Dispose outdated medicines that are no longer needed. Request for appropriate information on how medicines can be disposed.
4 Precautions to Take
Regular medical checkups is important so as to determine whether the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Diagnostic tests may also be used using blood and urine tests to confirm unwanted effects. Make sure your doctor knows if you are also taking potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium, or certain diuretics such as:
Using these medicines together may cause serious problems. This medicine may increase the amount of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia). It is advisable for people to stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away in case of the following symptoms:
Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist). The blood sugar levels may also be affected by these medicines.
Moreover, check with your doctor if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests. This medicine may induce the feeling of dizziness or drowsiness. It is recommended to avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could endanger your life when not very alert. Dizziness may affect you significantly when you lose too much water from your body. You may even lose water as a result of sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Inform your medical doctor when this medicines cause the feeling for lightheadness or dizziness after vomiting or diarrhea. Also check with your medical doctor when one feels drowsiness, fainting, confusion, muscle pain, weakness and fast heartbeat. It is also advisable to use extra care during exercise or when the weather is hot. Heavy sweating can cause excessive dehydration of loss of too much water or electrolyte imbalances such as loss of sodium, potassium, or magnesium in the body.
Inform any dentist or doctor that treats you and that knows whether you are using this medicine. You may also need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests. The results of some of the tests may also be affected by use of this medicine. Never use this medicine without consulting with your doctor. This include the use of the over the counter nonprescription medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever or sinus problems, since they may tend to increase your blood pressure.
It is known that not all the side effects of using these medicines may occur. When they do occur, they will require medical attention. Check with your medical doctor immediately if any of the side effects occur. Some of the medical conditions that have not been indicated to be present in this condition includes:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
Inability to have or keep an erection
Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
Loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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