Hypothiazid

Drug name: Hypothiazid

Other names used:

• Aldactazide®
• Aldoril®
• Apo-Hydro®
• Capozide®
• Dichlotride®
• Dyazide®
• HydroDIURIL®
• HydroSaluric®
• Inderide®
• Lopressor HCT®
• Maxzide®
• Microzide®
• Moduretic®
• Oretic®
• Timolide®
• Vaseretic®

Active Ingredients:

• Hydrochlorothiazide

Therapeutic actions: Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic, which is commonly referred to as a "water pill." It works by increasing the amount of salt and water that the kidneys remove from the blood. This extra salt and water is passed out through the urine. By increasing the amount of water removed from the blood, hydrochlorothiazide causes a decrease in blood volume. Because of this effect, hydrochlorothiazide can lower blood pressure and help with water retention.

Indications:

• Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Treating water retention (edema) due to several causes, including congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, kidney failure (renal failure), and certain medications.

Contraindications and cautions:

You should not take hydrochlorothiazide if:

• You are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide, any of the brand names version of hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix®, HydroDIURIL®, Microzide®, and Oretic®), or any inactive component used to make hydrochlorothiazide. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has a list of inactive ingredients.
• You are allergic to sulfonamide-derived drugs (also referred to as sulfa drugs). This includes certain types of antibiotics, diabetes medicines, and diuretics.
• You are not producing any urine (anuria).

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) if you have:

• Liver disease, including cirrhosis
• Kidney disease or kidney failure
• Diabetes
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus or SLE)
• A personal or family history of angioedema, which is swelling under the skin
• Gout
• Pancreatitis
• High cholesterol
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Fluid or electrolyte problems
• Parathyroid problems
• Had a sympathectomy (a specific kind of surgery)
• Any allergies, including allergies to hydrochlorothiazide, ACE inhibitors, sulfa drugs, foods, dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:

• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding. If you are nursing, hydrochlorothiazide passes through your milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about this. He or she can decide whether taking hydrochlorothiazide while nursing would be okay for your particular situation.

Important

• Hydrochlorothiazide may affect electrolytes in the blood (including sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride). Therefore, your healthcare provider will regularly check these levels. If you notice any symptoms of a possible electrolyte imbalance, contact your healthcare provider. These symptoms may include: a dry mouth, increased thirst, weakness, tiredness, restlessness, seizures, confusion, muscle pain or cramps, decrease in urine output, weak or irregular heartbeat, nausea, or vomiting.
• Hydrochlorothiazide may cause extreme low blood pressure in some people. Extreme low blood pressure is more likely to happen when the medicine is first started or when the dosage is changed. It is also more likely to happen in people who are on dialysis, have congestive heart failure, have diarrhea or vomiting, or who sweat a lot. This is why it is important to drink fluids regularly while taking hydrochlorothiazide. If you have any possible symptoms of low blood pressure, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, contact your healthcare provider. If you have fainted, stop taking hydrochlorothiazide until you have talked to your healthcare provider.

Adverse effects: Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Frequent urination should go away after you take hydrochlorothiazide for a few weeks. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• muscle weakness
• dizziness
• cramps
• thirst
• stomach pain
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• headache
• hair loss

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• sore throat with fever
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• severe skin rash with peeling skin
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions: It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Especially pay attention to the following drugs:

• Insulin
• Oral diabetes medication
• Other blood pressure medicine
• Alcohol
• Barbiturates, such as:
  • Amobarbital (Amytal®)
  • Butabarbital (Butisol Sodium®)
  • Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
  • Primidone (Mysoline®)
  • Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
  • Thiopental (Pentothal®)
• Narcotics, such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone
• Cholestyramine (Prevalite®, Questran®, Questran® Light, LoCholest®)
• Colestipol (Colestid®)
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, hydrocortisone (Cortef®), dexamethasone (Decadron®, Dexone®, Hexadrol®), and many others
• Norepinephrine
• Corticotropin (Acthar®)
• Muscle relaxants, such as tubocurarine
• Lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), naproxen (Naprosyn®), naproxen sodium (Aleve®, Anaprox®, Naprelan®), diclofenac (Cataflam®, Voltaren®), indomethacin (Indocin®), nabumetone (Relafen®), oxaprozin (Daypro®), celecoxib (Celebrex®), meloxicam (Mobic®), etodolac (Lodine®), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol®), and others.

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.