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Pharmacy and Medications

Is it Necessary to Eat Bananas with Amiloride?

07/22/2008 04:52PM

Question:

I take 1 pill of Amilorid water pill once a week. I picked up this pill in Europe while traveling. I take it for blood pressure usually around 150/90 and it brings it to normal. I also eat healthy, and exercise. I am a 63 years old healthy woman. Should I eat banana for the potassium when taking Amilorid? I do not want to take stronger medicines and hope with half hour daily walks and healthy eating, my blood pressure will go down. Thank you.

Answer:

Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic.  Taken with a potassium rich diet, it can cause the body's potassium to become too high.

Ask your doctor to check your electrolytes including potassium as well as your kidney function to make sure your body is able to process potassium.  Unless your blood studies indicate a need for potassium supplementation,  eating bananas while on amiloride is not necessary.

Discuss your high blood pressure with your doctor to make sure your pressure is consistently being lowered with diet, exercise and drug.

Keep up your good work toward improving your health with activities such as walking and your healthy eating plan.

 

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Response by:

The Ohio State University Carmen M. Hadley, RPh, CSPI
Clinical Instructor
Central Ohio Poison Center
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
College of Pharmacy
The Ohio State University