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