Pharmacology · single question
A patient with dry mouth is taking hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene. These medications are primarily combined to prevent which condition?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Hypokalemia
- A. Correct. Hydrochlorothiazide wastes potassium; triamterene is a potassium-sparing diuretic added specifically to prevent the hypokalemia that a thiazide alone would cause.
- B. Triamterene can RAISE potassium, but the purpose of the combination is to prevent low potassium, not high.
- C. Calcium balance is not the target of this combination (thiazides actually retain calcium).
- D. Hypercalcemia is not what this pairing is designed to prevent.