What is hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from
absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Triamterene is a potassium-sparing diuretic that also prevents your body from absorbing
too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.
The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene is used to treat fluid retention
(edema) and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene may also be used for other purposes not listed in this
medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Do not use this medication if you have:
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kidney disease or are unable to urinate;
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high potassium levels (hyperkalemia); or
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if you are taking other diuretics or potassium supplements.
Before using hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene, tell your doctor if
you have:
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diabetes;
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heart disease;
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cirrhosis or other liver disease;
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a breathing disorder;
-
gout;
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lupus;
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a history of kidney stones;
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an allergy to sulfa drugs;
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a pancreas disorder; or
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if you are using another blood pressure medication or a
steroid.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during
treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and could cause harm to a nursing baby.
Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
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.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from
this medication.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be
tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss
any scheduled appointments.
Hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene can interfere with the results of certain medical tests.
Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using a thiazide diuretic.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking
hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
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.
Store this medication at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
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.
Where can I get more information about hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Your pharmacist has information about hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side
effect such as:
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numbness or tingly feeling;
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muscle pain or weakness;
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slow, fast, or uneven heartbeat;
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feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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shallow breathing;
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tremors, confusion; or
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
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mild nausea or vomiting;
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dizziness, headache;
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gas, stomach pain; or
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skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Do not use this medication if you have kidney disease, urination problems, or high
levels of potassium in your blood. Do not use potassium supplements or other diuretics while
you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have heart or liver disease, diabetes, a
breathing disorder, gout, lupus, or a pancreas disorder. Tell your doctor if you use a steroid or
another blood pressure medicine.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of
hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.
Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can
make this medication less effective.
Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium.
These products could cause your potassium levels to get too high while you are taking
hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.
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.
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
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 should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of
hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.
Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium.
These products could cause your potassium levels to get too high while you are taking
hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.
Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can
make this medication less effective.
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
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 other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?
Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines
that make you light-headed (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping
pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to the side
effects of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
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lithium;
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amphotericin (Amphocin, Fungizone, AmBisome);
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methenamine (Hipprex, Mandelamine, Urex);
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steroids (prednisone and others);
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth;
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laxatives;
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an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril
(Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others; or
-
indomethacin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren),
indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen),
etodolac (Lodine), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with hydrochlorothiazide. 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.
What happens if I have an overdose of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene?