digoxin and piretanide

Piretanide, a new potent diuretic, was given to 18 healthy male subjects to determine its effect on serum, total body (TBK), and red cell potassium (RCP). TBK and RCP were measured before treatment to establish baseline values, after which all subjects received 6 mg piretanide a day for 14 days. After this period subjects were divided into two groups; group 1 received 6 mg/day piretanide for 14 more days and group 2 received the same dose of piretanide with 0.5 mg digoxin daily during the remaining 14 days. All treatments were terminated after 28 days, but subjects remained under observation for another 14 days. Serum potassium, TBK, and RCP were measured weekly during the 42-day period. Piretanide in a dose of 6 mg daily for a period of 6 wk did not induce a fall in serum potassium, TBK, or RCP. The addition of digoxin for 2 wk after piretanide alone for 2 wk did not decrease serum potassium and TBK, but RCP fell under the influence of piretanide with digoxin.

Topics: Adult; Digoxin; Diuretics; Drug Interactions; Electrocardiography; Erythrocytes; Homeostasis; Humans; Male; Potassium; Random Allocation; Sulfonamides