Adelphane

Drug name: Adelphane Esidrex

Other names used:

• Cam-Ap-Es®
• Cherapas®
• Ser-A-Gen®
• Ser-Ap-Es®
• Seralazide®
• Serpazide®
• Tri-Hydroserpine®
• Unipres®

Active Ingredients: dihydralazine hydrochlorothiazide Reserpine

Therapeutic actions:
Reserpine and dihydralazine work by decreasing your heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide Diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Indications: Adelphane Esidrex - is prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Adelphane does not cure high blood pressure but can help control it, so it is important to take the drug on a regular schedule as directed by your doctor.

Contraindications and cautions:
You should not take Adelphane Esidrex if :

• You are allergic to reserpine , dihydralazine, hydrochlorothiazide, aspirin, tartrazine.
• You have or have ever had kidney disease, gallstones, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, a history of depression, or electric shock therapy, coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, liver disease, or a heart attack.
• You are unable to urinate.
• You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Adelpahne, call your doctor. Too much use of reserpine and hydrochlorothiazide during pregnancy may cause unwanted effects (jaundice, blood problems, low potassium, difficult breathing, low temperatures, and loss of appetite) in the baby. In rats, rauwolfia alkaloids (like reserpine) decrease newborn survival rates
• Reserpine passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects (difficult breathing, low temperature, loss of appetite) in infants of mothers taking large doses of it. Hydrochlorothiazide also passes into breast milk. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine
• You are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Adelphane.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Adelphane.
You should talk to your healthcare provider prior to taking Adelphane if:

• Allergies or other breathing problems such as asthma—Reserpine can cause breathing problems
• Type 2 Diabetes mellitus—Hydrochlorothiazide may change the amount of diabetes medicine needed
• Epilepsy
• Gout (history of)—Hydrochlorothiazide may increase the amount of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout
• Heart disease—Reserpine can cause heart rhythm problems or slow heartbeat. Lowering blood pressure may worsen some conditions
• Lupus erythematosus (history of)—Hydrochlorothiazide may worsen the condition
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas)
• Parkinson's disease—Reserpine can cause parkinsonism-like effects
• Pheochromocytoma
• Stroke (recent)—Lowering blood pressure may make problems resulting from this condition worse

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.

More common

• General feeling of discomfort or illness or weakness

Less common

• Drowsiness or faintness; impotence or decreased sexual interest; lack of energy or weakness; mental depression or inability to concentrate; nervousness or anxiety; vivid dreams or nightmares or early-morning sleeplessness

Signs and symptoms of too much potassium loss

• Dryness of mouth; increased thirst; irregular heartbeat; mood or mental changes; muscle cramps or pain; weak pulse

Signs and symptoms of too much sodium loss

• Confusion; convulsions; decreased mental activity; irritability; muscle cramps; unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Black, tarry stools; blisters on skin; bloody vomit; chest pain; fever and sore throat; headache; irregular heartbeat; joint pain; numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in hands or feet; shortness of breath; skin rash or itching; slow heartbeat; stomach cramps or pain; swelling of lymph glands

Rare

• Lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination; stiffness; stomach pain (severe) with nausea and vomiting; trembling and shaking of hands and fingers; unusual bleeding or bruising; yellow eyes or skin

Signs and symptoms of overdose

• Dizziness or drowsiness (severe); dryness of mouth; flushing of skin; increased thirst; muscle cramps or pain; nausea or vomiting (severe); pinpoint pupils of eyes; slow pulse

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:

• Cholestyramine
• Colestipol—Use with thiazide diuretics may prevent the diuretic from working properly; take the diuretic at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after cholestyramine or colestipol
• Diazoxide (e.g., Proglycem)—Effect on blood pressure may be increased
• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine)—Hydrochlorothiazide may cause low potassium in the blood, which can lead to symptoms of digitalis toxicity
• Lithium (e.g., Lithane)—Risk of lithium overdose, even at usual doses, may be increased
• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])—Taking a rauwolfia alkaloid while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may increase the risk of central nervous system depression or may cause a severe high blood pressure reaction

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.