amiloride + hydrochlorothiazide

Amiloride + hydrochlorothiazide (brand name: Amilostad HCT) is an oral combination drug comprising the potassium-sparing diuretic amiloride and the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. While traditionally used for hypertension and edema, it is being repurposed by the Medical University of Vienna for neuroprotection in acute autoimmune optic neuritis, a condition frequently associated with multiple sclerosis. The neuroprotective mechanism is attributed to amiloride's blockade of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which is hypothesized to prevent axonal and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss following inflammatory injury. A Phase IIa clinical trial is currently evaluating the efficacy of this combination in reducing RNFL thinning as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Brand names

Amilostad HCT

Other names

amiloride hydrochloride + hydrochlorothiazide