Midamor

Midamor is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that stops your body from taking in too much salt and helps keep your potassium levels from dropping too low.

Midamor is used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) in people with high blood pressure or heart failure.

Midamor is usually given along with other medicines.

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

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may change your dose occasionally to ensure you get the best results. Do not use Midamor in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take Midamor with food.

Your doctor may suggest that you eat certain foods or take supplements to prevent your potassium from getting too low. Follow the diet and medication plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor.

While using Midamor, you will need frequent blood 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 Midamor. You may need to stop taking this medicine at least 3 days before having a glucose tolerance test.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, or freezing temperatures.

You should not use Midamor if you have kidney problems, if you are unable to urinate, or if you have high levels of potassium in your blood. Do not use potassium supplements or other diuretics while you are taking this medicine.

Midamor can raise the levels of potassium in your blood. You will need frequent blood tests while taking Midamor.

Call your doctor right away if you have unusual tiredness, numbness or tingling, slow heartbeats, muscle weakness or a limp feeling.

You should not use Midamor if you are allergic to it, or if:

• you have kidney disease or cannot urinate;
• you have kidney problems caused by diabetes;
• you have high potassium levels (hyperkalemia);
• you take a potassium supplement; or
• you take another potassium-sparing diuretic such as Moduretic, spironolactone, or triamterene.

To make sure Midamor is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• diabetes;
• heart disease;
• breathing problems;
• cirrhosis or other liver disease;
• if you are on a low-salt diet; or
• if you are severely ill or weak.

Midamor is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether amiloride passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

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

Stop taking Midamor and call your doctor right away if you have:

• increased thirst, decreased urination;
• heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;
• tremors, confusion, loss of consciousness;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• high potassium—tiredness, numbness or tingling, slow or unusual heart rate, muscle weakness or feeling limp; or
• low sodium levels in the body—headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Common side effects of Midamor may include:

• nausea, stomach pain, gas, loss of appetite;
• headache; or
• rash.

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 missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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

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 Midamor.

Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can make this medication less effective.

Drinking alcohol with Midamor can cause side effects.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise, in hot weather, or by not drinking enough fluids. 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.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• lithium;
• medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection--cyclosporine, tacrolimus;
• an ACE inhibitor (angiotensin converting enzyme)--benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, or trandolapril;
• heart or blood pressure medication--azilsartan, candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan; 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 interact with amiloride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.