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Intravenous triamterene in the treatment of acute digitalis intoxication
Author(s) -
Weber Donald John
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1972136868
Subject(s) - triamterene , digitalis , ouabain , potassium , pharmacology , diuretic , chemistry , digitoxin , efflux , furosemide , digitalis toxicity , anesthesia , medicine , digoxin , sodium , hydrochlorothiazide , biochemistry , heart failure , organic chemistry , blood pressure
It was recently found that the “potassium‐sparing” diuretic triamterene, given prophylactically, increases tolerance to digitalis intoxication. This study demonstrated that triamterene is also of therapeutic value in dogs acutely intoxicated with ouabain. Not only was the digitalis‐induced myocardial potassium efflux reversed, but also the efflux of magnesium was reversed. In the doses employed the clinical benefit was definite but not always permanent. Triamterene also seemed to stop the ouabain‐induced hypementilation and retching. A significant technical problem was the poor solubility and relatively low pH of the drug for intravenous administration. Triamterene has theoretic advantages over intravenous potassium chloride, as it affects membrane Na‐K dependent ATPase and may favorably influence the Ki/Ko ratio. The implications in man are clear.