hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology

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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. If you experience dizziness,avoid these activities hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.

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

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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. You mayhave an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• 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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• You may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapyif you have any of the conditions listed above hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is in the FDA pregnancy category B hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. This means thatit is not expected to harm an unborn baby hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctor if youare breast-feeding a baby hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.

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

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

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

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

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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. 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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.

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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• 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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• 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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Some medicines used to treatthese conditions may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and the effects on yourheart may be increased hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• 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 hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking,and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with hydrochlorothiazideor affect your condition hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines hydrochlorothiazide pharmacology.

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

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