Digestive System Channel
Topics
Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Dyrenium Uses
Dyrenium is used for the treatment of fluid retention caused by congestive heart failure, kidney failure, or other medical conditions. Since the drug has not been adequately studied in children or adolescents, it is only approved for use in adults. "Off-label" Dyrenium uses may include the treatment of high blood pressure and water retention associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Dyrenium® (triamterene) is a prescription medicine that is used as a diuretic for treating fluid retention. It is known as a "potassium-sparing" diuretic and is used to treat water retention (edema) due to various causes. Usually, triamterene is used in combination with hydrochlorothiazide, another diuretic (see Triamterene-HCTZ for more information). Dyrenium (which contains just triamterene) is used much less often.
Dyrenium Uses for Water Retention
One common cause of water retention is congestive heart failure (CHF). This is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. It does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should. This can lead to symptoms of CHF that include:
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs
- Rapid weight gain (see Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure).
There are many other causes of fluid retention, including:
- Medications,
- Kidney failure (renal failure)
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
Dyrenium can be used to treat fluid retention that is due to these conditions as well. It can help with water retention by causing the body to get rid of the extra fluid. However, Dyrenium does not cure congestive heart failure or other conditions that cause the body to retain fluid.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD



