Outpatient conversion of treatment to potassium-sparing diuretics.
Thiazide diuretics frequently cause a decrease in serum potassium levels. In this study, 34 percent of patients taking hydrochlorothiazide had serum potassium levels below 3.5 meq/liter. The response of the serum potassium level was studied after treatment in 56 patients was switched from 50 mg of hydrochlorothiazide daily to either two capsules of hydrochlorothiazide/triampterene (Dyazide), or one tablet of hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride (Moduretic) daily, over nine to 15 months. The 24 patients whose treatment was changed to Dyazide had a rise in serum potassium levels from a mean of 3.56 meq/liter to 4.17 meq/liter in two to three weeks. The 32 patients whose treatment was changed to Moduretic had a rise in serum potassium levels from a mean of 3.76 meq/liter to 4.14 meq/liter in two to three weeks. The resultant rise in potassium levels was stable throughout the follow-up period in both groups. Patient acceptance of this change was excellent.
N A
NA
Ridgeway
D R
DR
Ginn
K
K
Alley
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000584:Amiloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004487:Edema / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014223:Triamterene / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; C020743:hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene; C010247:amiloride, hydrochlorothiazide drug combination; D000584:Amiloride; D011188:Potassium; D014223:Triamterene