Triamterene

Pharmacological group: diuretics; potassium-sparing diuretics

Pharmacological effects: increase in the rate of excretion of sodium and potassium while maintaining the water.

Description
Triamterene - oral diuretic, used in medicine for the treatment of edema. Swelling can occur with no known cause (idiopathic edema), or may be associated with liver or kidney disease, congestive heart failure, the use of corticosteroids / progestin or overproduction of aldosterone. Triamterene is classified as a potassium-sparing diuretic that increases the rate of excretion of sodium and water, but retain potassium levels. As the name implies, the drug produces a pronounced diuretic effect without loss of potassium, observed when receiving thiazides / loop diuretics. Therefore, when using the drug eliminates the need for potassium supplementation. Triamterene diuretic activity after a single dose is usually evident within 2 to 4 hours and peak in most cases after about 3 h. Diuretic effect lasts for a total of 7-9 hours after application. Bodybuilders and athletes use Triamterene (off-label) to ensure removal of subcutaneous fluids before the competition in bodybuilding, or to adjust the weight to participate in certain sports. Bodybuilders, in particular, using a drug for increasing body relief that is observed with a decrease in the amount of water in the body. The level of relief dictated in bodybuilding today, almost unattainable without the use of diuretics. At the same time, diuretics are the reason why wrestlers and boxers in the competition weigh much more than the control weighing. When using diuretics observed significant weight loss (as water), which often leads to a decrease in weight category. This practice is very popular in those sports where participants did not pass doping tests and have enough time for rehydration after the weigh-in, with the result that the athletes in the competition reveals much heavier weight than is dictated by their weight categories.

History
For the first time it begins to Triamterene widely used clinically in the 1960s. Initially, a drug mainly used autonomously, but then begins to be widely used in clinical practice, in combination with other diuretics. Today, this list usually includes more powerful diuretics, loop and thiazide drugs. Potassium losses due to receive strong diuretics triamterene balanced by the potassium-sparing effect, which reduces or even eliminates the need for potassium supplements during therapy. Mono-ingredient triamterene drugs are still sold in some countries, including Belgium (Dytac), United Kingdom (Dytac), and the United States (Dyrenium). You can also like Hepatamin.

How supplied
Triamterene often supplied in capsules of 50 mg and 100 mg.

Structural Features
Triamterene is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It has the chemical name 2,4,7-triamino-6-phenyl-pteridine.

Warnings (dehydration, death)
Abuse of diuretics to improve the physique or performance is characterized by a high degree of risk. The use of diuretics can lead to life-threatening levels of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in the application without proper medical supervision. Since drug abuse is associated high mortality rate. Furthermore, it is important to note that when receiving potassium-sparing diuretics such as triamterene, usually not recommended to use potassium supplements or pharmaceutical products rich in potassium. Excessive intake of potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, which is fraught with the risk of arrhythmia and can lead to death.

Side effects of triamterene

Using triamterene may be associated with an imbalance of electrolytes, including increasing or decreasing the level of potassium. Signs of electrolyte imbalance include dry mouth, thirst, weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, restlessness, muscle pain, muscle spasms, cramps, decreased urine output, low blood pressure and gastrointestinal disorders. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, lack of platelets in the blood, anemia, azotemia (accumulation of metabolic waste in the blood), the formation of kidney stones and other renal dysfunction. In addition, some rare side effects manifest as hypersensitivity reactions, and in them - skin rash, photosensitivity, and anaphylaxis (extremely severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction).

Application of triamterene
In medicine, for the treatment of hypertension usual starting dose for adult patients is 100 mg twice a day, after a meal (200 mg daily). The dose may be increased but should not exceed a total of 300 mg per day. Among builders preparation is used for only a few days before the competition, and the dose adjusted to improve the diuretic effect. Since the drug has long-term effect, it is usually administered once a day. One capsule (100 mg) is usually taken in the morning with food, and the effect was observed over the next few hours. The dosage is usually increased by one capsule a day for 2-3 days to achieve the required water loss. To enhance the diuretic effect, many bodybuilders and athletes use the drug in conjunction with other potent diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide. At the same dosage of both drugs will be somewhat reduced, that will compensate for their cumulative effect. The purpose of the drug is a short-term increase in urine output without causing severe loss of potassium, which may be associated with the use of thiazides or loop diuretics at higher doses.

Availability:
Triamterene is widely available in the developed world. Although available mono-ingredient preparations containing Triamterene, the drug is most common as a multi- ingredient product for the treatment of edema and / or high blood pressure.