benazepril hctz
(hyde droe klor oh THYE a zide and ER beh sar tan)
Avalide
What is the most important information I should know about HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide)and irbesartan?
• Do not take HCTZ and irbesartan if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy benazepril hctz. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, irbesartan cancause injury and even death to the developing baby benazepril hctz. Notify your doctor immediatelyif you think you might be pregnant benazepril hctz.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities benazepril hctz. HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) and irbesartan may cause dizziness ordrowsiness benazepril hctz. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities benazepril hctz. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position benazepril hctz.
• Stop taking HCTZ and irbesartan and contact your doctor if lightheadednessor fainting occurs benazepril hctz.
• Use alcohol cautiously benazepril hctz. Alcohol may increase the drowsiness and dizzinessthat may occur while you are taking an HCTZ and irbesartan benazepril hctz.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight benazepril hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan may increasethe sensitivity of your skin to sunlight benazepril hctz. Use a sunscreen and wear protectiveclothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable benazepril hctz.
What are HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Irbesartan is an angiotensin II receptor inhibitor, also called angiotensinII receptor antagonist, and is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) benazepril hctz.
• HCTZ is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) benazepril hctz. It increases the amount ofwater and salt you lose in your urine and decreases edema (swelling or fluidretention) benazepril hctz.
• Together, HCTZ and irbesartan are used to reduce hypertension (high bloodpressure) benazepril hctz.
• HCTZ and irbesartan may also be used for purposes other than those listedin this medication guide benazepril hctz.
Who should not take HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Do not take HCTZ and irbesartan without first talking to your doctorif you have an allergy to sulfa-based drugs such as sulfa antibiotics benazepril hctz. You mayhave an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide benazepril hctz.
• Before taking HCTZ and irbesartan, tell your doctor if you
· have diabetes;
· have gout;
· have a collagen vascular disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
· have pancreatitis;
· have kidney disease;
· have liver disease;
· have high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood;
· have high levels of potassium in your blood; or
· are taking potassium a supplement (e.g., K-Dur, Klor-Con, others),or a potassium-sparing diuretic such as amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium,Dyazide, Maxzide), or spironolactone (Aldactone) benazepril hctz.
• You may not be able to take HCTZ and irbesartan, or you may require adosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any ofthe conditions listed above benazepril hctz.
• HCTZ and irbesartan is in the FDA pregnancy category D benazepril hctz. This means thatit is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby benazepril hctz. When used during the secondand third trimesters of pregnancy, irbesartan can cause injury and even deathof the developing baby benazepril hctz. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant benazepril hctz.
• HCTZ passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant benazepril hctz. It is notknown whether irbesartan passes into breast milk benazepril hctz. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby benazepril hctz.
How should I take HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Take HCTZ and irbesartan exactly as directed by your doctor benazepril hctz. If you donot understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explainthem to you benazepril hctz.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water benazepril hctz.
• HCTZ and irbesartan can be taken with or without food benazepril hctz.
• Stop taking HCTZ and irbesartan and contact your doctor if lightheadednessor fainting occurs benazepril hctz.
• Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor benazepril hctz. If you stop taking this medication suddenly, your condition could become worse benazepril hctz.
• Store HCTZ and irbesartan at room temperature away from moisture andheat benazepril hctz.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember benazepril hctz. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose benazepril hctz. Do not take a double dose of this medication benazepril hctz.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention benazepril hctz.
• Symptoms of an overdose of HCTZ and irbesartan are not well known butmay include dizziness, weakness, fainting, fatigue, low blood pressure, andchanges in heart rate benazepril hctz.
What should I avoid while taking HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities benazepril hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness benazepril hctz. If you experiencedizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities benazepril hctz. Also, use caution when risingfrom a sitting or lying position benazepril hctz.
• Stop taking HCTZ and irbesartan and contact your doctor if lightheadednessor fainting occurs benazepril hctz.
• Use alcohol cautiously benazepril hctz. Alcohol may increase the drowsiness and dizzinessthat may occur while you are taking HCTZ and irbesartan benazepril hctz.
• Avoid a diet high in salt benazepril hctz. Too much salt may cause your body to retainwater benazepril hctz. Talk to your doctor before making changes in your diet benazepril hctz.
• Do not use salt substitutes or take potassium supplements without firsttalking to your doctor benazepril hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan can affect potassium levels in yourbody benazepril hctz.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight benazepril hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan may increasethe sensitivity of your skin to sunlight benazepril hctz. Use a sunscreen and wear protectiveclothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable benazepril hctz.
• Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather benazepril hctz. It is easy to become dangerouslydehydrated while you are taking HCTZ and irbesartan benazepril hctz.
What are the possible side effects of HCTZ and irbesartan?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingthis medication and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· fast heartbeats;
· little or no urine;
· unusual fatigue, abnormal bleeding or bruising;
· yellow skin or eyes;
· confusion; or
· fainting benazepril hctz.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur benazepril hctz. Continueto take the medication and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness;
· nausea or upset stomach;
· diarrhea;
· headache;
· cough;
· muscle pain or cramps;
· rash; or
· anxiety or nervousness benazepril hctz.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur benazepril hctz. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome benazepril hctz.
What other drugs will affect HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Before taking HCTZ and irbesartan, tell your doctor if you are taking
· a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others;
· a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor),spironolactone (Aldactone), or triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, Nuprin), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), diclofenac (Cataflam,Voltaren), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro),naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), and others;
· an oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide(Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase),or tolbutamide (Orinase);
· a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others),methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Pediapred, Prelone), and others;
· cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
· lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others); or
· digoxin (Lanoxin) benazepril hctz.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above benazepril hctz.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with HCTZ and irbesartanor affect your condition benazepril hctz. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines benazepril hctz.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about HCTZ and irbesartanwritten for health professionals that you may read benazepril hctz.
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