effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide

What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide?
• To reduce nighttime urination, take hydrochlorothiazide early in theday unless otherwise directed by your doctor effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. If you experience dizziness,avoid these activities effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What is hydrochlorothiazide?
• Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. It decreasesthe amount of fluid in your body by increasing the amount of salt and wateryou lose in your urine effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is used to lower blood pressure and to decrease edema(swelling) effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide may also be used for purposes other than those listedin this medication guide effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

Who should not take hydrochlorothiazide?
• Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctorif you have an allergy to sulfa-based drugs such as sulfa antibiotics effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. You mayhave an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you have
· diabetes,
· gout,
· a collagen vascular disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus,
· pancreatitis,
· kidney disease,
· liver disease, or
· high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides (types of fat) in yourblood effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• You may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapyif you have any of the conditions listed above effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is in the FDA pregnancy category B effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. This means thatit is not expected to harm an unborn baby effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctor if youare breast-feeding a baby effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide?
• Take hydrochlorothiazide exactly as directed by your doctor effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. If you donot understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explainthem to you effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• To reduce nighttime urination, take hydrochlorothiazide early in theday unless otherwise directed by your doctor effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Do not stop taking hydrochlorothiazide suddenly even if you feel better effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Do not take a double dose of this medication effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Symptoms of a hydrochlorothiazide overdose include increased urination,nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, lethargy, and unconsciousness effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. If you experience dizziness,avoid these activities effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Use alcohol cautiously effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Alcohol may increase the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid a diet high in salt effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Too much salt may cause your body to retainwater and may decrease the effects of hydrochlorothiazide effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Hydrochlorothiazide may increasethe sensitivity of your skin to sunlight effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Use a sunscreen and wear protectiveclothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather and during exercise effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. It is easierto become dangerously dehydrated while taking hydrochlorothiazide effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takinghydrochlorothiazide and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· unusual fatigue;
· abnormal bleeding or bruising;
· yellow skin or eyes;
· confusion;
· irregular heartbeats or a fluttering feeling in your chest; or
· little or no urine effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Continue totake hydrochlorothiazide and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness, especially when you switch to sitting or standing from alying position;
· tingling or numbness in your arms, legs, hands, or feet;
· excessive urination;
· muscle weakness or cramps;
· increased hunger or thirst;
· nausea or decreased appetite;
· abdominal pain;
· sensitivity to sunlight; or
· impotence effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide?
• Before taking hydrochlorothiazide tell your doctor if you are takingany of the following medications:
· lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);
· digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
· the cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol(Colestid);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis, OrudisKT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac(Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac(Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), fenoprofen (Nalfon), ketorolac (Toradol), orflurbiprofen (Ansaid);
· a diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase,Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide(Orinase), and others; or
· a steroid medicine such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron,Hexadrol), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone),prednisolone (Delta Cortef, Prelone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• You may not be able to take hydrochlorothiazide, or you may require adosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking anyof the medications listed above effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Also, before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you aretaking any other medicine to treat high blood pressure, water retention, heartproblems, prostate problems, or another condition effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Some medicines used to treatthese conditions may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and the effects on yourheart may be increased effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide may increase the effects of other drugs that causedrowsiness, including sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, seizuremedicines, antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, anxiety medicines, andmuscle relaxants effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking,and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with hydrochlorothiazideor affect your condition effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about hydrochlorothiazidewritten for health professionals that you may read effects of taking hydrochlorothiazide.

Copyright 2005 D-S LTD.
All Rights Reserved.