Dyrenium

Dyrenium is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney condition called nephrotic syndrome.

Dyrenium is also used to treat edema caused by taking steroid medicine or having too much aldosterone in your body. Aldosterone is a hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps control the balance of salt and water in your body.

Dyrenium may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take Dyrenium 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 Dyrenium 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 Dyrenium.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Dyrenium.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

You should not use Dyrenium if you have severe kidney or liver disease, problems with urination, or high levels of potassium in your blood. You should not take Dyrenium if you are also taking potassium supplements or other diuretics like amiloride or spironolactone.

Call your doctor immediately 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 use Dyrenium 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.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• diabetes;
• heart disease;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• gout; or
• kidney stones.

Using Dyrenium 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. Dyrenium 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 Dyrenium.

Dyrenium is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Dyrenium may cause serious side effects. Stop using Dyrenium and call your doctor right away if you have:

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
• slow, fast, or uneven heartbeat;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• little or no urinating;
• signs of a kidney stone--sudden pain in your back or side, vomiting, fever, chills, painful urination, and urine that looks red, pink, brown, or cloudy; or
• high potassium level--nausea, weakness, tingling feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common side effects of Dyrenium may include:

• nausea, diarrhea;
• dizziness, headache;
• dry mouth; or
• feeling weak or tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the medicine as soon as possible, but skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include increased nausea, vomiting, unusual heart rate, muscle weakness, or loss of movement.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how Dyrenium will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Dyrenium could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes, unless your doctor has told you to.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• any other diuretic;
• lithium;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• heart or blood pressure medicine; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Dyrenium, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.