Relative potency of prorenoate potassium and spironolactone in attenuating diuretic induced hypokalaemia.

Abstract

The plasma potassium responses to the aldosterone antagonists prorenoate K (10 mg/day and 40 mg/day) and spironolactone (25 mg/day and 100 mg/day) were compared following treatment for 11 days in combination with the diuretic metolazone (2.5 mg/day) in a double‐blind crossover study in twelve healthy men. The best estimate of the potency of prorenoate K relative to spironolactone in attenuating metolazone induced hypokalaemia was 5.6 with 95% confidence limits 2.4‐35.2. The method employed allowed a statistically valid quantitative comparison of the potassium sparing properties of the mineralocorticoid antagonists after repeated doses and may be useful in the preclinical evaluation of these drugs. 1984 The British Pharmacological Society