drug 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 drug hctz. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, irbesartan cancause injury and even death to the developing baby drug hctz. Notify your doctor immediatelyif you think you might be pregnant drug hctz.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug hctz. HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) and irbesartan may cause dizziness ordrowsiness drug hctz. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities drug hctz. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position drug hctz.
• Stop taking HCTZ and irbesartan and contact your doctor if lightheadednessor fainting occurs drug hctz.
• Use alcohol cautiously drug hctz. Alcohol may increase the drowsiness and dizzinessthat may occur while you are taking an HCTZ and irbesartan drug hctz.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight drug hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan may increasethe sensitivity of your skin to sunlight drug hctz. Use a sunscreen and wear protectiveclothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable drug 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) drug hctz.
• HCTZ is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) drug hctz. It increases the amount ofwater and salt you lose in your urine and decreases edema (swelling or fluidretention) drug hctz.
• Together, HCTZ and irbesartan are used to reduce hypertension (high bloodpressure) drug hctz.
• HCTZ and irbesartan may also be used for purposes other than those listedin this medication guide drug 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 drug hctz. You mayhave an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide drug 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) drug 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 drug hctz.
• HCTZ and irbesartan is in the FDA pregnancy category D drug hctz. This means thatit is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby drug hctz. When used during the secondand third trimesters of pregnancy, irbesartan can cause injury and even deathof the developing baby drug hctz. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant drug hctz.
• HCTZ passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant drug hctz. It is notknown whether irbesartan passes into breast milk drug hctz. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby drug hctz.
How should I take HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Take HCTZ and irbesartan exactly as directed by your doctor drug hctz. If you donot understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explainthem to you drug hctz.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water drug hctz.
• HCTZ and irbesartan can be taken with or without food drug hctz.
• Stop taking HCTZ and irbesartan and contact your doctor if lightheadednessor fainting occurs drug hctz.
• Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor drug hctz. If you stop taking this medication suddenly, your condition could become worse drug hctz.
• Store HCTZ and irbesartan at room temperature away from moisture andheat drug hctz.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember drug hctz. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose drug hctz. Do not take a double dose of this medication drug hctz.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention drug 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 drug hctz.
What should I avoid while taking HCTZ and irbesartan?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness drug hctz. If you experiencedizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities drug hctz. Also, use caution when risingfrom a sitting or lying position drug hctz.
• Stop taking HCTZ and irbesartan and contact your doctor if lightheadednessor fainting occurs drug hctz.
• Use alcohol cautiously drug hctz. Alcohol may increase the drowsiness and dizzinessthat may occur while you are taking HCTZ and irbesartan drug hctz.
• Avoid a diet high in salt drug hctz. Too much salt may cause your body to retainwater drug hctz. Talk to your doctor before making changes in your diet drug hctz.
• Do not use salt substitutes or take potassium supplements without firsttalking to your doctor drug hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan can affect potassium levels in yourbody drug hctz.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight drug hctz. HCTZ and irbesartan may increasethe sensitivity of your skin to sunlight drug hctz. Use a sunscreen and wear protectiveclothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable drug hctz.
• Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather drug hctz. It is easy to become dangerouslydehydrated while you are taking HCTZ and irbesartan drug 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 drug hctz.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur drug 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 drug hctz.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur drug hctz. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome drug 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) drug hctz.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above drug hctz.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with HCTZ and irbesartanor affect your condition drug hctz. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines drug hctz.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about HCTZ and irbesartanwritten for health professionals that you may read drug hctz.
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