• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info

What is this medicine?
TRIAMTERENE (trye AM ter een) is a diuretic. It helps you make more urine and to lose excess water from your body. This medicine is used to treat edema or swelling from heart, kidney, or liver disease. It is also used to treat patients who make too much aldosterone or have low potassium.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.

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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions such as skin rash or itching, hives, swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• black or tarry stools
• lower back or side pain
• muscle pain or cramps
• numbness, tingling in hands or feet
• trouble breathing
• trouble passing urine
• unusual bleeding
• unusually weak or tired
• yellowing of the skin or eyes

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea
• headache
• nausea, vomiting

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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How should I use this medicine?
Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take this medicine after a meal to reduce stomach upset. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

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What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

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What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• eplerenone

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• diuretics
• lithium
• medicines for diabetes that are taken by mouth
• medicines for blood pressure, like ACE inhibitors
• NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
• penicillin G potassium
• potassium products like salt substitutes or supplements
• skeletal muscle relaxants, like tubocurarine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Anuria, severe or progressive renal disease or dysfunction (except possibly nephrosis), acute or chronic renal insufficiency, substantial renal impairment.
• Preexisting hyperkalemia (≥5.5 mEq/L).
• History of triamterene-induced hyperkalemia.
• Concurrent potassium supplementation, including potassium salts or potassium-containing salt substitutes. (See Interactions.)
• Concurrent therapy with potassium-sparing agents (e.g., spironolactone, amiloride hydrochloride, or fixed-combination formulations containing triamterene). (See Interactions.)
• Severe hepatic disease.
• Known hypersensitivity to triamterene or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check your blood pressure as directed. Ask your doctor or health care professional what your blood pressure should be, and when you should contact him or her.

Check with your doctor or health care professional if you get an attack of severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, or if you sweat a lot. The loss of too much body fluid can make it dangerous for you to take this medicine.

If you are diabetic, this medicine may increase your blood sugar levels. Check with your doctor or health care professional before you change the dose of your diabetic medicine.

This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.

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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• high blood level of potassium
• kidney disease or trouble making urine
• liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to triamterene, other diuretics, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
Even though you may feel better you should not stop taking your high blood pressure medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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