hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone

What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

What is hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill). Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic.

Hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone is a combination medicine used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome. This medicine also treats high blood pressure (hypertension), or low potassium levels (hypokalemia) caused by using a diuretic.

Do not use this medicine for any condition that has not been checked by your doctor.

Hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

• kidney disease or urination problems;
• liver disease;
• high levels of calcium or potassium in your blood;
• an allergy to sulfa drugs; or
• Addison's disease (an adrenal gland disorder).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• cirrhosis or other liver disease;
• severe kidney disease;
• asthma or allergies;
• glaucoma;
• gout;
• diabetes; or
• lupus.

In animal studies, spironolactone caused certain types of tumors. It is not known whether tumors could occur in people using this medicine. Ask your doctor about your risk.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

You may need frequent medical tests.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and drowsiness.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can make this medication less effective.

What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• breast swelling and tenderness;
• low blood cell counts --easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath;
• high potassium level --nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement;
• low potassium level --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or
• low sodium level --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Common side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, lack of energy;
• leg cramps;
• weakness;
• feeling like you might pass out;
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting; or
• electrolyte imbalance.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• cholestyramine;
• digoxin;
• lithium;
• heart or blood pressure medicine, especially another diuretic;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• medicine to prevent a blood clot;
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others; or
• steroid medicine --dexamethasone, prednisone, or others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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