You should not use triamterene if you have severe kidney or liver disease, urination problems, or high levels of potassium in your blood. You should not take triamterene if you also take potassium supplements, or other diuretics such as amiloride or spironolactone.
Call your doctor right away if you have signs of hyperkalemia (high potassium), such as nausea, irregular heartbeats, weakness, or loss of movement. High potassium may be more likely in older adults, or in people with kidney disease, diabetes, or severe illness.
You should not take triamterene if you also take potassium supplements, or other diuretics such as amiloride or spironolactone.
Call your doctor right away if you have signs of hyperkalemia (high potassium), such as nausea, slow or unusual heart rate, weakness, or loss of movement. You may be more likely to have high potassium if you have kidney disease, diabetes, a severe illness, or if you an older adult.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of triamterene.
Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can make this medication less effective.
Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium. These products could cause your potassium levels to get too high while you are taking triamterene.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Triamterene can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use triamterene if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
severe kidney disease, or if you are unable to urinate;
severe liver disease;
high potassium levels (hyperkalemia); or
if you take potassium supplements, or another potassium-sparing diuretic such as amiloride, eplerenone, or spironolactone.
To make sure triamterene is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
diabetes;
heart disease;
kidney disease;
liver disease;
gout; or
kidney stones.
Using triamterene may increase your risk of developing hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in your blood). High potassium may be more likely in older adults, or in people with kidney disease, diabetes, or severe illness.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant. Triamterene may harm an unborn baby. However, the benefit of treating edema during pregnancy may outweigh the risk to the baby.
You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
Triamterene is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take triamterene?
Take triamterene exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.
Take triamterene after eating a meal to avoid stomach upset.
Taking a diuretic can make you urinate more often, which could disrupt your sleep. If you take triamterene only once per day, take it in the morning to reduce the chance of night-time urination.
You may need frequent medical tests. Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using triamterene.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this mediciner.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
