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amiloride vs valsartan

Side-by-side comparison of amiloride and valsartan. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.2 Potassium-Sparing Diuretics As with other drugs that block angiotensin II or its effects, concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene, amiloride), potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium may lead to increases in serum potassium [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] .

Recommendation: Have your blood potassium levels checked frequently by your healthcare provider.

Drug Class
amiloride Potassium-Sparing Diuretic
valsartan Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
Type
amiloride Prescription
valsartan Prescription
Summary
amiloride

Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium. It is often used with other water pills to prevent low potassium levels.

valsartan

Entresto is a medicine that combines two drugs to help adults and children with heart failure. It can lower the risk of death and hospitalization.

What It Treats
amiloride

Amiloride treats high blood pressure and heart failure. It helps restore normal potassium levels if you develop low potassium while taking other water pills. It can also prevent low potassium if you are at risk, such as if you take digoxin or have heart rhythm problems. Amiloride is not usually prescribed alone.

valsartan

Entresto is used to treat heart failure in adults and children aged one year and older. It helps people whose hearts don't pump blood well enough. It can reduce hospital visits and the risk of death from heart problems.

How It Works
amiloride

Amiloride blocks sodium channels in your kidneys. This action reduces the amount of potassium lost in your urine. This helps to maintain or increase potassium levels in your body.

valsartan

Entresto works by blocking two substances in your body that can worsen heart failure. One substance is neprilysin, and the other is angiotensin II. By blocking these, Entresto helps your heart pump blood more easily and reduces strain.

Common Side Effects
amiloride
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
valsartan
  • Low blood pressure
  • High potassium levels in your blood
  • Cough
  • Dizziness
  • Kidney problems
FAERS Reports
amiloride
  • Shortness of breath 69
  • Diarrhea 57
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 49
  • Throwing up 39
  • Tiredness 37
valsartan
  • Feeling tired 5,476
  • Feeling lightheaded 5,251
  • Difficulty breathing 5,251
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 5,164
  • Loose stools 4,581
Serious Warnings
amiloride

Amiloride can cause high potassium levels, which can be dangerous. You should not take this medicine if you already have high potassium, kidney problems, or are taking other potassium-sparing diuretics or potassium supplements. Your doctor should check your potassium levels regularly.

valsartan

Entresto can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. If you are pregnant or become pregnant, stop taking Entresto right away and tell your doctor.

Pregnancy
amiloride

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if amiloride can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.

valsartan

Entresto can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Entresto.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This amiloride vs valsartan Comparison

amiloride is classified in the Potassium-Sparing Diuretic drug class, while valsartan sits within the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amiloride has 251 submissions while valsartan has 25,723. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these medications both prevent the kidneys from removing potassium, which can cause potassium to build up to unsafe levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amiloride and valsartan - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.