Usual Adult Dose for Ascites

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.
Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.
Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Edema

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.
Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day.
Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg once a day.

Renal Dose Adjustments

CrCl < 25 mL/min: Not recommended.

CrCl 25-80 mL/min: The usual dose is decreased by 50%.

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Dose Adjustments

Amiloride may be increased to 10 mg once a day.

Precautions

US BOXED WARNING:

• HYPERKALEMIA: Like other potassium-conserving agents, this drug may cause hyperkalemia (serum potassium levels greater than 5.5 mEq/L) which, if uncorrected, is potentially fatal. Hyperkalemia occurs commonly (about 10%) when this drug is used without a kaliuretic diuretic. This incidence is greater in patients with renal impairment, diabetes mellitus (with or without recognized renal insufficiency), and in the elderly. When this drug is used concomitantly with a thiazide diuretic in patients without these complications, the risk of hyperkalemia is reduced to about 1% to 2%. It is thus essential to monitor serum potassium levels carefully in any patient receiving this drug, particularly when it is first introduced, at the time of diuretic dosage adjustments, and during any illness that could affect renal function.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Amiloride is used to prevent hypokalemia in patients receiving diuretics or digoxin. Doses as high as 15-20 mg divided 1-2 times a day have been used.