title: The effect of amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide combination vs furosemide plus potassium supplementation in the treatment of oedema of cardiac origin.
abstract: In this double-blind multicentre study efficacy and safety of amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide (A/HCTH) combination and furosemide plus potassium supplementation (FUR/P) was compared after four weeks basal period -- FUR/P period. 43 patients entered the double-blind period which lasted for ten weeks. Congestive heart failure was well controlled in both of those treatment groups. There was only one patient (FUR/P-group) whose daily dose had to be increased. According their own evaluation the patients tolerated the A/HCTH combination (48%) better than the FUR/P combination (30%). In the A/HCTH-group one clinically significant case of hypokalaemia was found which caused the therapy to be stopped. In the FUR/P-group two patients discontinued the treatment because of clinical side effects. In the long-term therapy of congestive heart failure hydrochlorothiazide together with potassium-sparing amiloride is a pleasant and effective therapy for patients with normal renal function, but the risk of hypokalaemia must be kept in mind also when using this combination.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000584:Amiloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004489:Edema, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D011719:Pyrazines; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D000584:Amiloride; D005665:Furosemide