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