title: Plasma electrolytes in elderly patients taking fixed combination diuretics.
abstract: Plasma potassium and sodium concentrations were measured in a group of elderly patients taking maintenance thiazide diuretic therapy alone, with a potassium supplement or in combination with a potassium sparing diuretic. Fixed dose combinations of a thiazide and potassium sparing diuretic did not significantly reduce the prevalence of hypokalaemia and the combination of amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide was associated with a disproportionate number of cases of hyponatraemia. The desirability of the current widespread use of fixed dose combination diuretics over less expensive single agents is questioned.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000584:Amiloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014223:Triamterene / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; C020743:hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene; C010247:amiloride, hydrochlorothiazide drug combination; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D014223:Triamterene