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

What is hydrochlorothiazide?
• Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. It decreasesthe amount of fluid in your body by increasing the amount of salt and wateryou lose in your urine triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is used to lower blood pressure and to decrease edema(swelling) triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide may also be used for purposes other than those listedin this medication guide triamterene and 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 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. You mayhave an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide triamterene and 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 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• You may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapyif you have any of the conditions listed above triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is in the FDA pregnancy category B triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. This means thatit is not expected to harm an unborn baby triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctor if youare breast-feeding a baby triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.

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

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

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

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. If you experience dizziness,avoid these activities triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Use alcohol cautiously triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Alcohol may increase the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid a diet high in salt triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Too much salt may cause your body to retainwater and may decrease the effects of hydrochlorothiazide triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Hydrochlorothiazide may increasethe sensitivity of your skin to sunlight triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Use a sunscreen and wear protectiveclothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather and during exercise triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. It is easierto become dangerously dehydrated while taking hydrochlorothiazide triamterene and 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 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur triamterene and 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 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome triamterene and 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 triamterene and 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 triamterene and 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 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Some medicines used to treatthese conditions may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and the effects on yourheart may be increased triamterene and 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 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking,and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with hydrochlorothiazideor affect your condition triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.

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

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