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