Total exchangeable potassium in response to amiloride

The use of amiloride is described in twenty-four hypertensive patients who became hypokalaemic as a result of thiazide diuretic therapy in spite of oral potassium supplments. Amiloride caused a significant rise in exchangeable potassium, exchangeable potassium/kg body weight, and plasma potassium, together with a significant fall in plasma total carbon dioxide, body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. These results suggest that amiloride has a useful role in this type of patient.