Nurse Teaching Topic: Amiloride and Mechanism of Action

 Patient/caregiver was educated on Amiloride and its mechanism of action as follows:

1. Amiloride is a potassium sparing diuretic that acts on the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct, both parts of the renal tubule, involved in the reabsorption of water and solutes from the urine.
2. Amiloride inhibits the reabsorption of water, sodium, and chloride from the urine, which results in increased excretion and loss of water and these salts in the urine. Amiloride also decreases excretion of potassium and results in increase in the blood levels of potassium.
3. Since Amiloride prevents excretion of potassium from the body, it is considered a potassium sparing diuretic.
4. By inhibiting reabsorption of water and sodium in the kidney and promoting their loss in the urine, Amiloride helps with situations of fluid overload in the body, such as, compromise in cardiac, renal and liver functions, resulting in fluid backup and edema.
5. Reduced fluid volume in the body can help reduce the blood pressure.
6. By reducing fluid overload in the body and the blood pressure, Amiloride can also help with reducing the workload on the heart. Reducing the workload on the heart can contribute towards improving the efficiency of cardiac function in individuals with heart failure.
7. By reducing fluid overload in the body and the blood pressure, Amiloride can also help with reducing risk for stroke and progression of renal failure.