Hydrochlorothiazide And Losartan Consumer Information

hydrochlorothiazide and losartan

Generic Name: hydrochlorothiazide and losartan (hye droe klor oh THY a zide and loe SAR tan)
Brand Names: Hyzaar

What is hydrochlorothiazide and losartan?

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Losartan is in a group of drugs called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Losartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure improves blood flow.

The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and losartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and to reduce the risk of stroke in people with hypertension.

Hydrochlorothiazide and losartan may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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

Before using hydrochlorothiazide and losartan, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure, kidney or liver disease, asthma, low or high blood levels of potassium, gout, lupus, diabetes, or an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

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

Before using hydrochlorothiazide and losartan, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;

• congestive heart failure;

• asthma or allergies;

• low or high levels of potassium in your blood;

• gout;

• lupus;

• diabetes; or

• an allergy to sulfa drugs.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take hydrochlorothiazide and losartan.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and losartan?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Hydrochlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medication.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include fast or slow heartbeat, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and losartan?

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

Hydrochlorothiazide and losartan side effects

• feeling light-headed, fainting;

• swelling, rapid weight gain;

• fast or pounding heartbeats;

• urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, restless feeling, confusion, nausea, vomiting, increased urination, muscle pain or weakness, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

Less serious side effects may include:

• stomach pain;

• back pain;

• dizziness;

• skin rash;

• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat; or

• dry cough.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide and losartan?

Before taking hydrochlorothiazide and losartan, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• any other blood pressure medications;

• steroids (prednisone and others);

• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

• celecoxib (Celebrex) or valdecoxib (Bextra);

• cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

• a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);

• any other diuretics, such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex), and others;

• aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others;

• a muscle relaxer such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), metaxalone (Skelaxin), or methocarbamol (Robaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), or tizanidine (Zanaflex);

• a narcotic medication such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin), oxymorphone (Numorphan), or propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with hydrochlorothiazide and losartan. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.