Details

Metolazone is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention. Metolazone is used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome. Metolazone is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). You should not use metolazone if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe liver disease or if you are unable to urinate. To make sure metolazone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have an electrolyte imbalance a heart rhythm disorder an allergy to sulpha drugs liver disease kidney disease diabetes gout or systemic lupus erythematosus. Using metolazone during pregnancy could cause side effects in the newborn baby, such as blood cell problems, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Typical Uses

Metolazone is a "water pill" (diuretic) that increases the amount of urine you make, which causes your body to get rid of excess water. This drug is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This medication also reduces swelling/fluid retention (edema) which can result from conditions such as congestive heart failure or kidney disease. This can help to improve symptoms such as trouble breathing.

Side Effects

Common metolazone side effects may include chest pain pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest easy bruising or bleeding a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out liver problems-nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) low potassium-leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling low levels of sodium in the body-headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady other signs of an electrolyte imbalance-dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, weakness, drowsiness, lack of energy, muscle pain, little or no urination, or feeling restless or severe skin reaction-fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Drug Interactions

• Metolazone+amiodarone- Talk to your doctor before using amiodarone together with metolazone. 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.
• Metolazone+cisapride- Using cisapride together with metolazone 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.
• Metolazone+dofetilide- Using dofetilide together with metolazone 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.
• Metolazone+tizanidine- Tizanidine and metolazone may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate. These side effects are most likely to be seen at the beginning of treatment, following a dose increase, or when treatment is restarted after an interruption.

Mechanism of action

Metolazone belongs to the group of medicines called quinazoline (thiazide-like) diuretic. It acts by reducing salt and water in the body by increasing the urination.

Pregnancy Category : D