Summary
The effect of adding amiloride or spironolactone to an antihypertensive regimen which consisted of hydroehlorothiazide and guanethidine was studied. Amiloride and spironolactone produced very similar effects including significant urinary sodium loss, decrease in serum bicarbonate, potassium retention and increase in serum potassium. In two groups of hypokalemic patients, neither spironolactone nor amiloride caused further lowering of blood pressure. Temporary moderate hyperkalaemia occurred in one patient when amiloride was substituted for spironolactone. The administration of the two drugs together or in close succession appears to be hazardous, probably due to synergistic effects.
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This is contribution No. 934 from the Division of Basic Health Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine. This investigation was supported by grants HE 06491, HE 5582, GM 14270, and FR 39 from the National Institutes of Health.
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McNay, J.L., MacCannell, K.L. & Oran, E. Potassium-retaining diuretics: Electrolyte changes induced in hypertensive patients. Pharmacol. Clin. 2, 94–98 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420714
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420714