Hydrochlorothiazide – Uses, Side Effects, and More

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Uses

This drug is prescribed to patients who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). Strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems can all be avoided by treating high blood pressure and lowering it. Diuretics, also known as “water pills,” are the category of medications to which hydrochlorothiazide belongs. The way it works is by increasing the amount of pee that you produce. This assists your body in eliminating excess salt as well as fluids. Edema is a condition that can be caused by disorders such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. This drug helps lower the amount of extra fluid that builds up in the body. This may help alleviate symptoms such as chest tightness or edema in the ankles or feet.

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How to use Hydrochlorothiazide

It is recommended that you take this medication orally, as instructed by your physician, once a day in the morning, either with or without a meal. It is possible that you will have to get up to urinate if you take this medication too close to the time that you plan to go to bed. It is recommended that you take this medication a minimum of four hours before going to bed.

Your current health status and how well you respond to treatment will determine the appropriate dosage.

Make sure you take this medication as directed for it to have the desired effect. Take it at the same time every day so that you don’t forget when you’re supposed to. Continue taking this medication even if you don’t feel like you need it. The majority of people who have hypertension do not report feeling ill.

If you are also taking other medications to lower your cholesterol, such as bile acid-binding resins like cholestyramine or colestipol, you should take your hydrochlorothiazide dosage at least four hours before or at least four to six hours after taking these other prescriptions.

Notify your physician if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse if it does not improve (for example, if your blood pressure readings remain high or increase).

Side Effects

As your body responds to the drug, you may have symptoms such as an upset stomach, dizziness, or headache. Notify your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if any of these side effects continue or become worse.

When rising from a seated or lying position, it is important to do so carefully in order to limit the likelihood of experiencing dizziness and lightheadedness.

Keep in mind that the reason your doctor has recommended that you take this medication is that he or she believes that the potential benefits to you outweigh the potential risks of doing so. The majority of persons who take this medicine do not report experiencing any severe adverse effects.

If you have any major adverse effects, including a decline in your eyesight or eye pain, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

This drug has the potential to produce dry mouth as well as an electrolyte imbalance. Notify your primary care provider as soon as possible if you experience any symptoms of dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance, such as intense thirst, a mouth that is extremely dry, muscle cramps or weakness, a slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat, confusion, or a decrease in the amount of urine that you produce.

It is quite unusual for this medicine to cause an extremely severe allergic reaction. However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you detect any symptoms of a significant allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), extreme dizziness, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms may indicate anaphylaxis.

This list of potential adverse effects is not exhaustive in any way. Please consult your physician or pharmacist if you have any side effects that are not listed above.

In the United States, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit their website at www.fda.gov/medwatch to report any adverse effects.

In Canada, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345 to report any adverse effects you experience.

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Precautions

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide, as well as if you have any other allergies, before beginning treatment with this medication. This product may include inactive substances that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. One example of such an ingredient is sulfites, which can be found in some brands. Discuss the matter further with your pharmacist for further information.

Before beginning treatment with this drug, it is important to discuss your past medical conditions with your doctor or pharmacist, particularly if you have a history of diabetes, gout, kidney disease, liver illness, lupus, or skin cancer.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you dizzier. Do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle, operate any machinery, or engage in any activity that requires attentiveness until you are able to do it safely. Reduce your intake of alcoholic beverages. If you are a marijuana user, you should consult your primary care physician (cannabis).

Extreme sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea can all put a person at an increased risk of being dehydrated. Notify your doctor if your vomiting or diarrhea lasts for an extended period of time. If you want to avoid being dehydrated, make sure to consume a lot of fluids, unless your doctor tells you to do otherwise.

If you have diabetes, hydrochlorothiazide may impact your blood sugar. Your doctor should advise you to perform regular checks on your blood sugar. It’s possible that your diabetic medication, exercise routine, or diet will need some tweaking from your doctor.

It’s possible that this medication will lower your potassium levels. Talk to your physician about replacing salt with a salt replacement that contains potassium or about eating foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas and orange juice. Your medical professional may recommend that you take a potassium supplement.

There is a possibility that using this medication will increase your photosensitivity. Taking it for an extended period of time, in particular, may put you at a higher risk of developing skin cancer. Reduce the amount of time you spend in the sun. Stay away from tanning beds and indoor sunlamps. When you go outside, make sure to put on sunscreen and protective gear. Notify your physician as soon as possible if you develop a sunburn, experience skin blisters or redness, or discover new moles or skin lesions that have altered.

Before undergoing surgery, it is important to discuss all of the products you use with your dentist or doctor (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

The side effects of this medication, particularly dizziness, may be felt more acutely by people of advanced age.

During pregnancy, it is important to only use this drug when it is absolutely necessary. Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential drawbacks and advantages.

This medication does go into breast milk, but it is highly unlikely that it may harm a nursing baby. Before starting to breastfeed, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

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Interactions

Drug interactions can alter the way in which your prescriptions work or raise the likelihood that you will have major adverse effects. This document does not contain all possible medication interactions. Maintain a list of all the goods you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as herbal remedies, and give it to both your primary care physician and your pharmacist. Without first consulting your physician, you should never alter the dosage of any medication, stop taking any medication, or start taking any new medication.

Dofetilide and lithium are two examples of products that could potentially interact with this medication.

Certain goods contain components that can cause an increase in your blood pressure or make your swelling worse. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using and ask for instructions on how to use them safely. This is especially important for over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen.

This medicine has the potential to skew the findings of some laboratory tests, including those assessing parathyroid function; as a result, the results of those tests could be inaccurate. Ensure that the staff at the lab and all of your physicians are aware that you are using this medication.

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Overdose

Dial 911 if you suspect that someone has overdosed and they are exhibiting serious symptoms such as passing out or having problems breathing. In any other case, you should immediately contact a poison control center. To reach the poison control center for your area in the United States, dial 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents can call a provincial poison control center. Extreme lightheadedness, extreme weakness, and even passing out can all be symptoms of an overdose.

Warnings

This drug should not be given to anyone else.

Changes in lifestyle, such as increased physical activity, giving up smoking, and consuming a diet low in cholesterol and fat, may improve the effectiveness of this medicine. Consult your doctor for additional details.

While you are taking this medicine, you may need to undergo tests in the laboratory or be examined by a doctor for your kidney function, potassium levels, or skin. Make sure you don’t miss any of your doctor or lab appointments. Consult your doctor for additional details.

While you are taking this medicine, you should get your blood pressure and pulse (heart rate) checked on a frequent basis. You should become familiar with the procedures for taking your own blood pressure and pulse at home and then report the results to your attending physician.

Neglected Dose

If you forget to take a dose, you should take it as soon as you realize you forgot. If it is getting close to the time of the next dose, you should forgo the dose that you missed. Your next dose should be taken at the typical time. It is not necessary to double the dose in order to catch up.

Storage

Keep at room temperature and away from light and moisture. Store at room temperature. Keep away from the bathroom at all costs. Always make sure that children and animals are kept well away from any medications.

Unless you have been specifically told to do so, you should not flush drugs down the toilet or pour them down a drain. When it is no longer needed or has passed its expiration date, dispose of this product in the appropriate manner. Talk to your neighborhood pharmacy or the firm that handles garbage disposal in your area.