Vaseretic is a combination medication used to lower high blood pressure in adults. It contains enalapril maleate (an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor) and hydrochlorothiazide (a thiazide diuretic). This medication comes as a tablet that's taken by mouth once per day. Possible side effects include dizziness, headache, and tiredness. Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) is available as brand name and generic medications.
High blood pressure in adults
Vaseretic is a combination of two medications that lowers blood pressure in different ways:
Enalapril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It lowers blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels and telling the body to hold on to less salt and fluid.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic, which is a water pill. It lowers blood pressure by helping the kidneys get rid of extra salt and water.
Source: DailyMed
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:
Less common
Blurred vision
chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
chills
cold sweats
coma
confusion
decreased urine output
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
drowsiness
fainting
fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
headache
increased thirst
irritability
large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
muscle pain or cramps
nausea or vomiting
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
rapid breathing
seizures
sunken eyes
sweating
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
thirst
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
weak pulse
wrinkled skin
Rare
Persistent non-healing sore
pink growth
reddish patch or irritated area
shiny bump
white, yellow or waxy scar-like area
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:
Less common
Ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty in moving
inability to have or keep an erection
itching skin
joint stiffness or swelling
lack or loss of strength
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
pain in the joints
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
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.
Combines two blood pressure medications in one tablet
Taken by mouth once per day
Can be taken with or without food
Tablets can be split in half because they're scored
Takes a few weeks before seeing maximum benefit on blood pressure
Only available as a tablet
Can make you urinate more
Not safe to take while pregnant
You might notice your blood pressure improving within hours of starting Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide). But it can take several weeks to see the maximum blood pressure-lowering effects of the medication.
Take Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) at any time of day. But you might consider taking it in the morning since hydrochlorothiazide in Vaseretic can make you urinate more.
You can take Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) with or without food. If the medication hurts your stomach, taking it with food might help.
Be sure to check your blood pressure at home and write down your readings. Share this log with your prescriber at your follow-up visits. This will help your prescriber see how well Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) is working for you and see whether you need any changes to your treatment plan.
Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause dizziness or headaches, especially when you first start taking the medication or whenever your healthcare team raises your dose. These side effects should get better as you continue taking the medication. Stand up slowly after sitting or lying down to prevent falls.
Dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE-inhibitors, like enalapril. It's possible for you to get a cough from taking Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide). This side effect can appear at any time during treatment. If you get a cough from Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) and it's bothersome, talk to your prescriber. They might switch you to a different blood pressure medication.
Take Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) exactly as prescribed. Don't change your dose or stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your prescriber first. Doing so can cause your blood pressure to rise quickly. You might need to lower your dose slowly over time before you can completely stop taking it.
Stay hydrated while taking Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide). Taking this medication when you're dehydrated can lead to very low blood pressure that might cause you to faint. If you lose a lot of fluids from sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting, ask your healthcare team how much fluids you need to drink to recover.
Hydrochlorothiazide in Vaseretic can make you more sensitive to the sun. Wear protective clothing when going outside to lower your risk of sunburns, and ask your healthcare team about getting your skin checked regularly for skin cancer.
Both enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide can interact with many other medications, such as lithium (Lithobid) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)). Make sure to tell your care team about all the medications you're taking before and during treatment with Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide).
Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) isn't safe to take during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant, contact your prescriber right away. Your prescriber will likely recommend a different medication that's safe during pregnancy.
Vaseretic (enalapril / 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.
Don't take Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) if you're pregnant. Enalapril in Vaseretic can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening harm to unborn babies, so it shouldn't be taken during pregnancy. If you find out that you're pregnant while taking Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide), stop and let your prescriber know right away. If you're pregnant before starting Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) or thinking of becoming pregnant during treatment, discuss with your healthcare professional (HCP) about safer options to treat your blood pressure.
Risk factors: Black people | Having angioedema in the past
Enalapril in Vaseretic can trigger a rare, but life-threatening side effect called angioedema. This involves swelling in different parts of the body, including the face and tongue, and can cause trouble breathing. Sometimes, angioedema affects he gut and can cause stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Angioedema can happen at any time during treatment. The risk for this side effect is higher in Black people than in non-Black people. Get medical attention immediately if you experience swelling in any of the areas mentioned above, stomach pain, or difficulty breathing. You'll have to stop taking Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) if this happens.
Risk factors: History allergies or asthma | Allergy to sulfa
Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause allergic reactions. Your risk is higher if you have a history of allergies, asthma, or a sulfa allergy, though it can happen to anyone. Let your prescriber know if you have a rash, itchiness, hives, trouble breathing, or swelling in the face.
Risk factors: Not enough fluid in your body | Receiving dialysis | Having diarrhea or vomiting for a long time | Eating low-salt diet | Taking diuretic medications for a long time | Heart failure
Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause your blood pressure to drop too much, which can make you feel dizzy, tired, or lightheaded. This side effect is more common if you're dehydrated from diarrhea or vomiting, or if you have heart failure. Before you start Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide), your care team will check to see if your fluid and salt levels are balanced. They will instructed you to stay well-hydrated to avoid having blood pressure that's too low. Sit down slowly while holding onto something if you feel dizzy from low blood pressure. Let your care team know if your blood pressure drops too much. Get medical help immediately if you fall and hit your head.
Risk factors: Severe heart failure | Kidney problems | Not enough fluid in your body | Taking other medications that can cause kidney damage | History of narrow heart valves (aortic stenosis)
Sometimes, Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) can affect your kidneys and cause them to not work as well. The risk is higher for people who have certain types of kidney problems, such as renal artery stenosis or very severe heart failure. Your prescriber might order lab tests every so often to make sure your kidneys are healthy and working properly. If you develop kidney problems, or if your kidney problems worsen while taking Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide), your prescriber might recommend that you stop taking this medication. Let your prescriber know if you're urinating less often than usual, as this could be a sign that your kidneys aren't working as well.
Rarely, people who took ACE inhibitors like enalapril in Vaseretic have developed a blocked bile duct. This condition can lead to liver problems or liver failure. Your prescriber might order blood tests to check your liver health from time to time. If you notice symptoms of liver problems, such as tiredness, stomach pain, or yellowing of your skin, let your care team know right away.
Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) can affect the level of certain electrolytes in your body, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Your prescriber might order blood work regularly while you're taking this medication to make sure your electrolyte levels are in a safe range. Let your care team know if you experience a fast heart beat, weakness, low energy, muscle pain or cramps, less urination than usual, nausea, or vomiting. These can be signs of electrolyte changes in your body.
In addition, Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) might affect your blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. Your prescriber might also check your blood sugar and cholesterol levels regularly while you're taking this medication.
Risk factors: Sulfa or penicillin allergies
Although rare, some people experience vision changes or eye pain within hours or weeks of starting taking hydrochlorothiazide, an ingredient in Vaseretic. Tell your prescriber right away about any vision changes and stop taking Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide), as untreated symptoms could lead to permanent vision loss.
In some rare cases, Vaseretic (enalapril / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause worsening of or new lupus. Let your prescriber know if you notice a rash across your cheeks and nose or feel very tired.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
10mg/25mg | 30 tablets | $381.66 | $12.72 |
Your prescriber will pick a starting dose based on factors like how high your blood pressure is, which other blood pressure medications you're currently taking or have recently taken, and how high your risk for side effects is.
In general, the typical dose ranges from 5 mg/12.5 mg (enalapril/hydrochlorothiazide) to 20 mg/50 mg (enalapril/hydrochlorothiazide) by mouth once daily.
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.
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.
Taking at the same time as aliskiren (Tekturna) in people with diabetes (high blood sugar)
Taking at the same time or within 36 hours of neprilysin inhibitors, such as Entresto (sacubitril / valsartan)
Not producing urine
Allergy to sulfa medications
Allergy to ACE inhibitors
History of angioedema (severe swelling)
High blood pressure in adults
High blood pressure
High blood pressure in adults
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Dicpinigaitis, P. V. (2006). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced cough: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2014). Renal artery stenosis.
Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (2024). Enalapril maleate and hydrochlorothiazide tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
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