[The effect of bemetizide-triamterene on the serum and whole body potassium in hypertensive patients (author's transl)].

The hypotensive effect of Bemetizide (B)/Triamterene (T) and its action on the potassium balance was investigated in 10 patients with renovascular hypertension. Within 14 days treatment with 50 mg B and 100 mg T a significant fall in the mean blood pressure of 174/106 to 143/95 mm Hg occurred. Whereas the serum potassium concentration fell by an average of 4.2 +/- 0.5 to 3.9 +/- 0.6 mEq/1 the whole body potassium showed only a slight insignificant regression by 50 and 80 mEq after 2--4 weeks; however, the potassium content related to the body weight remained unchanged. In contrast to monotherapy with chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide, treatment with a combination of B and T caused no significant alteration of the intracellular content of potassium.