Triamterene - a 'water' tablet or diuretic

About triamterene

Triamterene belongs to the group of medicines known as potassium-sparing diuretics. A diuretic is a medicine which increases the amount of urine that you pass out from your kidneys. They are often referred to as 'water' tablets. Triamterene is called a potassium-sparing diuretic because, unlike some other diuretics, it does not cause your body to lose potassium. It is used to treat احتباس السوائل (الوذمة), and it is also given alongside other diuretics to reduce the amount of potassium they cause your body to lose.

Oedema occurs when fluid leaks out of your blood vessels, causing swelling in the tissues of your lungs, feet or ankles. This makes you feel breathless and your legs feel puffy. It is commonly caused by heart failure or liver disease. Triamterene prevents the build-up of this fluid by increasing the amount of urine your kidneys produce.

In the UK, triamterene is only available in combination with another diuretic medicine called chlortalidone. This combination can help cut down on the number of tablets you need to take each day.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking triamterene it is important that your doctor knows:

• إذا كنت حاملاً أو مرضعة.

• If you have problems with the way your kidneys work, or any difficulty passing urine.

• إذا كان لديك أي مشاكل في كيفية عمل الكبد لديك.

• إذا كنت مصابًا بمرض السكري.

• If you have attacks of gout.

• إذا أخبرك الطبيب بأن لديك مستويات عالية من البوتاسيوم في دمك.

• If you have a problem with your adrenal glands, called مرض أديسون.

• إذا كنت تتناول أي أدوية أخرى. يشمل ذلك أي أدوية يمكن شراؤها بدون وصفة طبية، بالإضافة إلى الأدوية العشبية والمكملات الغذائية.

• إذا كنت قد تعرضت في أي وقت مضى لرد فعل تحسسي تجاه دواء.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. It will give you more information about triamterene and will also provide you with a full list of side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take triamterene exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual, to begin with, to take 3-5 capsules a day divided into two doses, one dose with your breakfast and the other at lunchtime. After the first week or so, your doctor is likely to ask you to take the capsules on alternate days only. The directions for taking your doses will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• Diuretics are best taken no later than mid-afternoon. This is because you will find you may need to go to the toilet a couple of times after taking it and this will disturb your sleep if you take it too late in the day.

• Swallow the capsules with a drink of water. You can take triamterene either with or without food.

• If you forget to take a dose of triamterene, take it when you remember if it is only a few hours late. If it is after mid-afternoon, leave out the forgotten dose completely and take your next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. The balance of salts in your blood may be upset by triamterene so your doctor may want you to have a blood test from time to time to check for this.

• تساعدك مدرات البول على فقدان الماء، مما يسهل عليك التنفس والحركة. ومع ذلك، إذا فقدت الكثير من السوائل، فقد تعاني من نقص السوائل في الجسم (الجفاف). سيجعلك ذلك تشعر بالعطش ويجعل بشرتك تبدو وتشعر بالجفاف. أخبر طبيبك إذا حدث ذلك، فقد تحتاج جرعتك إلى التعديل.

• Because triamterene is a potassium-sparing diuretic, you should try to avoid things with a high potassium content, such as 'salt substitutes'. This is so the level of potassium in your body does not become too high.

• Treatment with diuretics is usually long-term, so continue to take triamterene unless your doctor advises you otherwise.

• إذا اشتريت أي أدوية "بدون وصفة طبية"، يرجى التحقق مع الصيدلي من أنها مناسبة لك لتناولها بجانب الأدوية الموصوفة لك.

• Triamterene can cause your urine to look slightly blue in some lights - this is harmless and nothing to be concerned about.

إذا كنت تتناول هيدروكلوروثيازيد أيضًا مع هذا الدواء

• أشارت الدراسات إلى أن تناول جرعات أعلى من هيدروكلوروثيازيد لفترات طويلة قد يزيد من خطر الإصابة بأنواع معينة من سرطان الجلد.

• أخبر طبيبك إذا كنت قد تلقيت علاجًا لسرطان الجلد من قبل.

• أخبر طبيبك عن أي شامات جديدة أو متغيرة أو علامات مقلقة على جلدك.

• استخدم واقي الشمس في ضوء الشمس القوي. لا تستخدم أجهزة التسمير.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the common ones associated with triamterene. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

إذا شعرت بأي أعراض أخرى تعتقد أنها قد تكون بسبب الكبسولات، يرجى التحدث مع طبيبك أو الصيدلي للحصول على مزيد من النصائح.

• احفظ جميع الأدوية بعيدًا عن متناول ورؤية الأطفال.

• احفظه في مكان بارد وجاف، بعيدًا عن الحرارة المباشرة والضوء.