valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide diovan hct

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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