Potassium-Retaining Diuretics: Triamterene

Abstract

Triamterene belongs to the class of cyclic amidine diuretics along with amiloride. The core structure of triamterene (Fig. 3) is a pteridine ring which is substituted in the 2, 4, and 7 positions by amino groups (Fig. 7). In the 6 position a phenyl moiety is connected to the pteridine structure. Triamterene shows structural similiarities to folic acid and was originally synthesized by SPICKETT and TIMMIS as a folic acid antagonist (1954). Triamterene is a yellow, odorless, crystalline powder which is almost taste- less, but has a slightly bitter aftertaste