Repositioning Candidate Details
Candidate ID: | R0138 |
Source ID: | DB00384 |
Source Type: | approved |
Compound Type: | small molecule |
Compound Name: | Triamterene |
Synonyms: | 6-phenylpteridine-2,4,7-triamine; Teridin; Triamterene |
Molecular Formula: | C12H11N7 |
SMILES: | NC1=NC(N)=C2N=C(C(N)=NC2=N1)C1=CC=CC=C1 |
Structure: |
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DrugBank Description: | Triamterene (2,4,7-triamino-6-phenylpteridine) is a potassium-sparing diuretic that is used in the management of hypertension. It works by promoting the excretion of sodium ions and water while decreasing the potassium excretion in the distal part of the nephron in the kidneys by working on the lumenal side. Since it acts on the distal nephron where only a small fraction of sodium ion reabsorption occurs, triamterene is reported to have limited diuretic efficacy. Due to its effects on increased serum potassium levels, triamterene is associated with a risk of producing hyperkalemia. Triamterene is a weak antagonist of folic acid, and a photosensitizing drug. Triamterene was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. in 1964. Currently, triamterene is used in the treatment of edema associated with various conditions as monotherapy and is approved for use with other diuretics to enhance diuretic and potassium-sparing effects. It is also found in a combination product with hydrochlorothiazide that is used for the management of hypertension or treatment of edema in patients who develop hypokalemia on hydrochlorothiazide alone. |
CAS Number: | 396-01-0 |
Molecular Weight: | 253.2626 |
DrugBank Indication: | Triamterene is indicated for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and the nephrotic syndrome; also in steroid-induced edema, idiopathic edema, and edema due to secondary hyperaldosteronism. Triamterene in combination with hydrochlorothiazide is indicated for the managment of hypertension or treatment of edema in patients who develop hypokalemia following hydrochlorothiazide monotherapy, and in patients who require thiazide diuretic and in whom the development of hypokalemia cannot be risked. Triamterene allows the maintenance of potassium balance when given in combination with loop diuretics and thiazides. |
DrugBank Pharmacology: | Triamterene, a relatively weak, potassium-sparing diuretic and antihypertensive, is used in the management of hypertension and edema. It primarily works on the distal nephron in the kidneys; it acts from the late distal tubule to the collecting duct to inhibit Na+ reabsorption and decreasing K+ excretion. As triamterene tends to conserve potassium more strongly than promoting Na+ excretion, it can cause an increase in serum potassium, which may result in hyperkalemia potentially associated with cardiac irregularities. In healthy volunteers administered with oral triamterene, there was an increase in the renal clearnace of sodium and magnesium, and a decrease in the clearance of uric acid and creatinine due to its effect of reducing glomerular filtration renal plasma flow. Triamterene does not affect calcium excretion. In clinical trials, the use of triamterene in combination with hydrochlorothiazide resulted an enhanced blood pressure-lowering effects of hydrochlorothiazide. |
DrugBank MoA: | Triamterene inhibits the epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) located on the lumenal side in the late distal convoluted tubule and collecting tubule , which are transmembrane channels that normally promotes sodium uptake and potassium secretion. In the late distal tubule to the collecting duct, sodium ions are actively reabsorbed via ENaC on the lumnial membrane and are extruded out of the cell into the peritubular medium by a sodium-potassium exchange pump, the Na-K-ATPase, with water following passively. Triamterene exerts a diuretic effect on the distal renal tubule to inhibit the reabsorption of sodium ions in exchange for potassium and hydrogen ions and its natriuretic activity is limited by the amount of sodium reaching its site of action. Its action is antagonistic to that of adrenal mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone, but it is not an inhibitor or antagonist of aldosterone. Triamterene maintains or increases the sodium excretionm, thereby increasing the excretion of water, and reduces the excess loss of potassium, hydrogen and chloride ions by inhibiting the distal tubular exchange mechanism. Due to its diuretic effect, triamterene rapidly and reversibly reduces the lumen-negative transepithelial potential difference by almost complete abolition of Na+ conductance without altering K+ conductance. This reduces the driving force for potassium movement into the tubular lumen and thus decreases potassium excretion. Triamterene is similar in action to but, unlike amiloride, increases the urinary excretion of magnesium. |
Targets: | Amiloride-sensitive sodium channel subunit gamma inhibitor; Amiloride-sensitive sodium channel subunit alpha inhibitor; Amiloride-sensitive sodium channel subunit beta inhibitor; Amiloride-sensitive sodium channel subunit delta inhibitor |
Inclusion Criteria: | Therapeutic strategy associated |

Strategy ID | Strategy | Synonyms | Related Targets | Related Drugs |
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Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
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I12 | 10763 | Hypertension | An artery disease characterized by chronic elevated blood pressure in the arteries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352797 | disease of anatomical entity/ cardiovascular system disease/vascular disease/ artery disease | Details |