Details

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention. Hydrochlorothiazide treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or oestrogen. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). To make sure you can safely take hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease liver disease glaucoma gout diabetes of an allergy to sulpha drugs. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide. You should not use hydrochlorothiazide if you are allergic to it or if you are unable to urinate.

Typical Uses

Hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Hydrochlorothiazide is a "water pill" (diuretic) that causes you to make more urine. This helps your body get rid of extra salt and water. This medication also reduces extra fluid in the body (edema) caused by conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. This can lessen symptoms such as shortness of breath or swelling in your ankles or feet.

Side Effects

Common side effects of hydrochlorothiazide include eye pain, vision problems dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed fast or uneven heartbeat muscle pain or weakness numbness or tingly feeling a red, blistering, peeling skin rash or nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Drug Interactions

• Hydrochlorothiazide+amiodarone- Talk to your doctor before using amiodarone together with hydrochlorothiazide. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need regular monitoring of your electrolyte (magnesium, potassium) levels as well as other tests to safely use both medications.
• Hydrochlorothiazide+cisapride- Using cisapride together with hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, or fast or pounding heartbeats during treatment with cisapride.
• Hydrochlorothiazide+dofetilide- Using hydrochlorothiazide and dofetilide is not recommended. Taking these drugs together can affect the rhythm of your heart. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, blurred vision or nausea.
• Hydrochlorothiazide+lithium- Ask your doctor before using hydrochlorothiazide and lithium. Using hydrochlorothiazide together with lithium can increase the effects of lithium. This may cause diarrhoea, vomiting, drowsiness, tremor, thirst, increased urination, lack of coordination, or muscle weakness.
• Hydrochlorothiazide+pimozide- Ask your doctor before using hydrochlorothiazide together with pimozide. Taking these drugs together can affect the rhythm of your heart. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, blurred vision,

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Mechanism of action

Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to class of medications called thiazide diuretics. It acts by eliminating the fluid and salts from the body. It works on the kidneys to produce more urine which removes extra water and certain salts from the body which in turn lowers blood pressure and swelling.

Pregnancy Category : B