Potassium conservation with amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide ("Moduret') in thiazide-induced hypokalaemia in hypertension.
A double-blind study was carried out in 24 hypertensive patients with thiazide-induced hypokalaemia (serum potassium less than 3.2 mmol/l) to compare the effects of treatment with an amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide combination or hydrochlorothiazide alone. The study was divided into three phases: (i) potassium repletion (Weeks 0 to 4) with oral potassium chloride (40 mmol/day), (ii) stabilization (Weeks 4 to 6) of normokalaemia, and (iii) active drug treatment (Weeks 6 to 14), patients being allocated at random to receive one or other of the two treatments. Dosage was 2 tablets per day of the 5 mg amiloride plus 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide combination or of 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide alone. The results showed that blood pressure control was comparable in both treatment groups but hydrochlorothiazide alone caused a statistically significant reduction in serum potassium levels compared to the drug combination. Apart from 1 patient who developed hypokalaemia on hydrochlorothiazide alone, no other side-effects of treatment were reported.
D000584:Amiloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D011719:Pyrazines; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; C010247:amiloride, hydrochlorothiazide drug combination; D000584:Amiloride; D011188:Potassium