GENERIC NAME: TRIAMTERENE - ORAL (try-AM-TER-een)

BRAND NAME(S): Dyrenium

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert

WARNING: This medication can raise your body's potassium levels. This is more likely to occur in people with kidney problems, diabetes, in elderly patients, or if the patient is severely ill. Potassium levels must be closely monitored in people with any of these problems or illnesses. If not treated, very high potassium levels can be fatal. If you develop any of the following symptoms, notify your doctor immediately: muscle weakness, slow or irregular heartbeat.

USES: This drug is a "water pill" (diuretic). It reduces the amount of water and sodium retained by the body. It is used to lower blood pressure and to treat fluid retention (edema).

HOW TO USE: Take with food or milk or after meals to minimize stomach upset. Take this drug exactly as prescribed. Do not skip doses or increase the dose without your doctor's approval. Because this drug may increase urination, avoid taking a dose right before bedtime. This medication may increase your potassium levels. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using potassium-containing products such as salt substitutes or potassium supplements. Ask about eating potassium-containing foods (e.g., bananas, potatoes).

SIDE EFFECTS: This drug may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, lack of energy and dry mouth. Notify your doctor if these effects persist or worsen. This medication may also increase sensitivity to the sun. Inform your doctor if you develop: irregular heartbeat, tingling/numbness of hands or feet, difficulty urinating, fever, chills, rash, sore throat, mouth sores, severe back pain. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

High Blood Pressure - High Blood Pressure: Medical information about hypertension, its treatment, therapies and prevention Source:MedicineNet Electrolytes - Electrolytes in the body need to be maintained for bodily fluid function. Electrolytes are lost through bodily secretions such as sweat, diarrhea, vomiting. Source:MedicineNet Hyperkalemia - Learn about hyperkalemia, a condition caused by abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood. Symptoms include nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, and tingling sensations. Causes, diagnosis, and treatment options are also included in the information. Source:MedicineNet Read 13 more triamterene-oral related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection