hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill that helps to lower blood pressure and ease swelling from fluid (edema) caused by many health conditions, such as heart failure and kidney problems. Typically, you take hydrochlorothiazide by mouth once (sometimes twice) daily. Some common side effects of hydrochlorothiazide include dizziness and urinating more often.
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What is Hydrochlorothiazide?
What is Hydrochlorothiazide used for?
High blood pressure
Swelling in the body from fluids (edema), in addition to other medications
How Hydrochlorothiazide works
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic, also known as a water pill, that makes you urinate more. It works in the kidneys to remove extra water and certain electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, to lower blood pressure and reduce swelling.
Drug Facts
More on Hydrochlorothiazide essentials
What are the side effects of Hydrochlorothiazide?
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Skin more sensitive to sunlight
- Temporary blurred vision
- Headache
- Low blood pressure
- Electrolytes out of balance
- Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
Other Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Not feeling hungry
- Muscle spasms
- Hair loss
Serious Side Effects
- Serious skin allergic reaction: painful blisters, peeling rash, flu-like symptoms
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): pain, swelling, or tenderness in the stomach, fever, nausea, vomiting, fast heartbeat
Source: DailyMed
More on Hydrochlorothiazide side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Back, leg, or stomach pains
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blood in the urine or stools
blue lips and fingernails
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain or tightness
chills
clay-colored stools
cloudy urine
cold sweats
confusion
cough or hoarseness
coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
coughing up blood
cracks in the skin
darkened urine
decrease in urine-concentrating ability
decreased frequency or amount of urine
difficult, fast, or noisy breathing
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
fast or irregular heartbeat
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
general body swelling
general feeling of discomfort or illness
greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
headache
increased hunger
increased sweating
increased thirst
increased urination
indigestion
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
loss of appetite
loss of heat from the body
lower back or side pain
muscle cramps or pain
nausea or vomiting
nosebleeds
numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
painful or difficult urination
pains in the stomach or side, possibly radiating to the back
pale skin
persistent non-healing sore
pink growth
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red, irritated eyes
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, swollen skin
reddish patch or irritated area
redness, soreness, or scaly skin
seizures
shiny bump
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
sores, welting, or blisters
swelling of the face, fingers, legs, ankles, feet, or lower legs
swollen or painful glands
tenderness of salivary glands
thickening of bronchial secretions
trembling
trouble breathing
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusual weight loss
vomiting of blood
weakness and heaviness of the legs
white, yellow or waxy scar-like area
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Cramping
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
hair loss or thinning of the hair
inability to have or keep an erection
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
redness or other discoloration of the skin
restlessness
sensation of spinning
severe sunburn
weakness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Hydrochlorothiazide
Pros
Does a good job getting rid of extra fluids in your body
A first choice treatment option if you have high blood pressure and heart failure
Provider can adjust dose based on your response
Might protect against osteoporosis over time since it raises the body's level of calcium
Cons
Makes you urinate more often
Must be used with caution in people with severe kidney or liver problems
Raises risk of gout attacks in people with poor kidney function or a history of gout
Can cause electrolytes and fluid levels to be out of balance, which can be dangerous
Pharmacist tips for Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide starts working about 2 hours after you take it and its effects can last up to 12 hours. With this in mind, try to have easy access to a bathroom about 2 hours after your dose because you'll likely need to use it.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill that makes you urinate more often. Taking it in the morning will make it less likely for you to wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
Hydrochlorothiazide can cause dizziness in the first few days since it lowers your blood pressure, but your body will adjust over time. Be sure to stand up slowly from your seat or bed to prevent falls.
A very small number of people with a sulfa allergy might also be allergic to hydrochlorothiazide. Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you have any medication allergies.
If you have high blood sugar, you might need to monitor your blood sugar levels more often when starting hydrochlorothiazide because it can affect your blood sugar. Let your provider know if there are changes to your blood sugar because they might need to make changes to the dose of your blood sugar medication.
Hydrochlorothiazide can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Make sure to wear sunscreen and wear protective clothing to prevent skin damage and lower your risk of skin cancer. See your provider for regular skin cancer screenings.
Hydrochlorothiazide can interact with many medications. Let your provider know all of the medications you're taking so they can make sure it's safe for you to take.
More on Hydrochlorothiazide tips
Frequently asked questions about Hydrochlorothiazide
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What are the risks and warnings for Hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Vision problems
Risk factors: Sulfa or penicillin allergies
Vision changes can happen within hours or weeks after starting hydrochlorothiazide. Tell your doctor right away about any vision changes or eye pain and stop taking hydrochlorothiazide as soon as possible. In some cases, surgery might be required to avoid permanent vision loss.
Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
Risk factors: Kidney problems | Liver problems | Hot weather | Parathyroid problem
Taking too much hydrochlorothiazide can cause you to urinate a lot. This can lead to low levels of fluid and low levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, or chloride (electrolytes). And if you have liver problems, this might result in a coma. Let your doctor know if you experience dry mouth, weakness, tiredness, dizziness, muscle pain or cramps, fast heart rate, vomiting, or nausea, as these can be signs that you're losing too much fluid with hydrochlorothiazide.
In addition, taking hydrochlorothiazide can raise your blood calcium level. In some cases, this might be a sign of a problem with your parathyroid. If your provider wants to test your parathyroid function, you'll need to stop taking hydrochlorothiazide. Make sure to tell your provider about all the medications you're taking before getting any tests or lab work done.
Waste build up in body
If you've kidney problems, let your provider know right away. Taking hydrochlorothiazide can cause certain waste product to build up in people with kidney problems. Let your provider know right away if you have symptoms such as trouble making urine, swelling in your legs, weakness, and confusion.
Higher blood sugars
Risk factors: Currently have or history of diabetes
Hydrochlorothiazide might raise your blood glucose. If you already have diabetes, check your blood sugar more regularly and let your doctor know if it's consistently higher or lower than usual because your medication doses may need to be adjusted.
Gout
Risk factors: Personal or family history of gout | Kidney problems
Hydrochlorothiazide can raise uric acid levels in your body and cause or worsen gout. If you've had gout attacks before or you have problems with your kidneys, your risk is higher. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you notice that your joints are swollen, red, and painful.
Allergic reaction
Risk factors: History of sulfa allergies
People with allergies to other sulfa-containing medications might experience similar reactions with hydrochlorothiazide. Make sure your provider and pharmacist know about all of your drug allergies, especially if they were severe. Stop taking hydrochlorothiazide and get medical attention right away if you notice a rash or other signs of allergic reaction.
Hydrochlorothiazide dosage forms
Typical dosing for Hydrochlorothiazide
High blood pressure: The typical starting dose is 25 mg by mouth once daily. Your provider might raise your dose to 50 mg daily, taken either as a single dose or split it into two doses.
Swelling from fluids: The typical dosing range is between 25 mg and 100 mg by mouth daily, either as a single dose or divided doses throughout the day.
Interactions between Hydrochlorothiazide and other drugs
More on Hydrochlorothiazide interactions
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Acetyldigoxin
- Amphetamine
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Aspirin
- Benzphetamine
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Clonixin
- Deslanoside
- Desmopressin
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Dextroamphetamine
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Digitalis
- Digitoxin
- Digoxin
- Dipyrone
- Droperidol
- Droxicam
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Flecainide
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketanserin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Levomethadyl
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Lithium
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Methamphetamine
- Methotrexate
- Metildigoxin
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Ouabain
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piroxicam
- Porfimer
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Proscillaridin
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sotalol
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Valdecoxib
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aminolevulinic Acid
- Bepridil
- Carbamazepine
- Cholestyramine
- Ginkgo
- Gossypol
- Licorice
- Topiramate
How much does Hydrochlorothiazide cost?
Hydrochlorothiazide contraindications
People whose kidneys can't make urine
Allergy to sulfa-containing medications
What are alternatives to Hydrochlorothiazide?
High blood pressure
Swelling in the body from fluids (edema), in addition to other medications
Swelling due to heart failure or kidney disease
Swelling due to liver disease (taken with other medications) - generic hydrochlorothiazide only
High blood pressure - generic hydrochlorothiazide only
Swelling (edema) due to heart failure, liver problems, or kidney problems
What is the latest news about Hydrochlorothiazide?
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