Get detailed information on Hydrochlorothiazide
Triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide is really an oral diuretic (water pill) that is utilized for treating high blood pressure (hypertension) and edema (water accumulation). It’s a blend of two different diuretics.
The kidneys control the volume of sodium and water within the body. Generally, blood circulates throughout the kidneys where much of the water, sodium and other small molecules are filtered out of your blood and into the tubules of the kidney. Once within the tubules, much of the water and sodium are reabsorbed back into the blood. The water and sodium that’s not reabsorbed passes on from the tubules and becomes urine that’s removed from your body. Diuretics modify the reabsorption of sodium and water from the tubules and therefore, the quantity of sodium and water maintained or removed by the body. Besides controlling sodium, the kidney also regulates the amount of potassium that’s stored or eradicated from the body.
Diuretics get rid of salt (sodium) and water from the body. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that can be used alone for the treatment of high blood pressure levels and edema. It functions by blocking sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby reducing sodium and water in the body. (Whereas it is apparent how hydrochlorothiazide eradicates water from the body, its mechanism of action in reducing high blood pressure isn’t well understood.) To make up for the increased amount of sodium and water in the tubules which will be lost as urine, the kidney attempts to reabsorb more sodium and water. It does this by eliminating potassium from the blood and getting it into the tubules in return for sodium (and water) in the tubules. As a result, blood potassium levels fall. Triamterene is a diuretic that puts a stop to reabsorption of sodium in return for potassium. Thus, it reduces sodium and water within the body but also prevents the exhaustion of potassium. For this reason, triamterene is called a potassium sparing diuretic. By pairing hydrochlorothiazide with triamterene, sodium and water are taken away from the body with no loss of potassium.
Triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide can be used for the treatment of high blood pressure and edema.
The encouraged dose is 1-2 tablets or capsules daily. The maximum dose is 75/50 mg daily. Similar to other diuretics, it should be taken in the morning in order to avoid excessive trips to the bathing room at night.
Triamterene increases potassium levels in the body. Consequently, combining triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide with ACE inhibitors [for example, enalapril (Vasotec)], angiotensin receptor blockers [for example, losartan (Cozaar)], aliskiren (Tekturna), eplerenone (Inspra), potassium health supplements or other drugs that also increase blood potassium can result in dangerous potassium levels in your body.
Salt substitutes (for instance, Mrs Dash) contain potassium and may lead to excessive potassium levels in your body if combined with triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide.
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