What is hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from
absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Aliskiren is an anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) medication. It works by
decreasing substances in the body that narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure.
The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren is used to treat high blood pressure
(hypertension).
Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren 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 aliskiren?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aliskiren (Tekturna) or
hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if
you are unable to urinate.
Before using hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby.
Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren may cause injury and even death to the unborn baby if you
take it during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and
aliskiren without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth
control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant
during treatment.
It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren passes into breast milk. Do
not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?
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.
You may take this medication with or without meals, but take it the same way every time.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating
more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication, which can
lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be
checked on a regular basis. You may also need blood tests. Visit your doctor regularly.
It may take up to 4 weeks for this medication to control your blood pressure. Keep using
this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using
hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Hydrochlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who
treats you that you are using this medication.
Store hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren at room temperature away from moisture and
heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?
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 aliskiren?
Your pharmacist has information about hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?
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.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
-
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
easy bruising or bleeding;
-
feeling like you might pass out;
-
urinating less than usual, or not at all;
-
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering,
peeling, and red skin rash;
-
joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle
aches, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizure (convulsions);
or
-
dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, confusion,
increased urination, muscle pain or weakness, fast heart rate, or fainting.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
diarrhea, stomach pain, indigestion;
-
dizziness, spinning sensation;
-
blurred vision;
-
weakness;
-
joint pain;
-
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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?
Do not
use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
pregnant. Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren may cause injury and even death to the unborn baby
if you take it during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Use an effective form of birth
control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant
during treatment.
Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking
hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, unless your doctor has told you to.
There are many other medicines that can interact with
hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.
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. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other
healthcare provider who treats you.
It may take up to 4 weeks for this medication to control your 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 aliskiren?
Avoid taking this medication with a high-fat meal, which can make it harder for your
body to absorb the hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.
Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking
hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, unless your doctor has told you to.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up
slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood pressure and may increase some of
the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.
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 aliskiren?
Before taking hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, tell your doctor if you are using any of
the following drugs:
-
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
-
irbesartan (Avapro);
-
ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
steroids (prednisone and others);
-
any other blood pressure medication or diuretic (water
pill);
-
insulin or diabetes medicine you take by mouth;
-
cholesterol medication such as atorvastatin (Lipitor),
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
-
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen
(Orudis), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others;
-
a muscle relaxer such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol
(Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone (Skelaxin), methocarbamol (Robaxin),
orphenadrine (Norflex), or tizanidine (Zanaflex);
-
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital
(Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal,
Solfoton); or
-
a narcotic medication such as hydrocodone (Lortab,
Vicodin), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Methadose), oxycodone (OxyContin),
propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren. 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 aliskiren?
