Diuretics

[CASSIEBEL]

Anybody have any experience with Potassium sparing diuretics? I had to get off HCTZ for the third time because of extremely low potassium even tho I was taking a supplement.

[Lenin]

CASSIEBEL,

I've taken DISTAL diuretics (thiazides like HCTZ, and chlorthalidone) and I've taken a LOOP diuretic and addded potassium (Lasix...furosemide) but I've never tried any potassium sparing diuretics becasue the side effects scared me away...primarily the hormonal effects from spironolactone:

Breast tenderness in females; clumsiness ; deepening of voice in females; enlargement of breasts in males; inability to have or keep an erection; increased hair growth in females ; irregular menstrual periods; sweating

Probably the most prescribed is the combo called MAXIDE or DYAZIDE, a mix of triamterente and HCTZ. I've never heard of JUST prescribing triamterene probably because HIGH serum potassium is so much more dangerous than LOW. It might also be because triamterene is too weak to do the job alone.

I've NEVER been bothered with too low a potassium, so I'm not in your boat but I went off thiazides because my SODIUM was consistently very low.

Give the triamtere-HCTZ a try, a lot of people do.

[madfit]

When my doctor gave me a very low dose HCTZ diuretic, he also gave me a low dose potassium as a supplement. So far so good and 4 years now. Regular blood work is taken every 6 months to make sure all is well.

[CASSIEBEL]

Lenin and madfit,
Thanks for the replies. I was taking a potassium supplement from the doc but it just wouldn't keep up with the HCTZ. They would double or triple the dose for a day or two and I would feel OK but then my cardiologist would have me go back to my reg dose and in a couple of weeks I would have extreme fatigue and arrythmias. I really need a diuretic to control my bp.
Lenin, the side effects are what I am afraid of. I really miss the HCTZ