Dytac - Triamterene

Triamterene (Dytac) is a potassium-sparing diuretic which has an action and use similar to that of amiloride. The diuretic effect extends over 10 h. Gastrointestinal upsets occur. Reversible, nonoliguric renal failure may occur when triamterene is used with indomethacin (and presumably other NSAIDs). 

Modern diuretics contain no mercury. Many of them, like amiloride (N-amidino-3,5 diamino-6-chloropyrazine-2-carboxamide) and the pteri-dine diuretic, triamterene ( Dytac ) (r. i), act on the membrane lining the distal tubule, preventing resorption of sodium ions (and hence of water) (Crabbe, 1968 Wiebelhaus et al. 1965). The simpler molecule 2,4-diamino-6,7-dimethylpteridine is almost as active. Others, like frus-emide and ethacrynic acid, seem to act somewhat similarly. It is less certain that the thiazides, such as (14.2), act in this way. For more information on the action of diuretics, see Suki, Eknoyan, and Martinez-Maldonado... 

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