hydrochlorothiazide-moexipril

Generic Name: hydrochlorothiazide-moexipril
Other Brand Names: Uniretic

What is hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill). It helps to lower your blood pressure and decrease edema (swelling) by increasing the amount of water and salt you lose in your urine.

Moexipril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). Moexipril is used to lower blood pressure and to relieve the symptoms of congestive heart failure, including shortness of breath and swelling of the legs.

Hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

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

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

Do not take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril if you have an allergy to sulfa-based drugs such as sulfa antibiotics. You may have an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide.

Moexipril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions. Before taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril.

Before taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril, tell your doctor if you

  • have diabetes,

  • have gout,

  • have a collagen vascular disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus,

  • have pancreatitis,

  • have kidney disease,

  • have liver disease,

  • have a blood or bone marrow disease,

  • have any type of heart disease or have had a stroke,

  • are taking salt substitutes, potassium supplements (e.g., K-Dur, Klor-Con), or potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide), or spironolactone (Aldactone); or

  • are on a salt-restricted diet or have high levels of potassium in your blood.

You may not be able to take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Moexipril is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that moexipril is known to harm an unborn baby. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, moexipril can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril if you are pregnant.

Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. It is not known whether moexipril passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of this medication.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

Take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking your medication, your condition could become worse.

Store hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Where can I get more information about hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?
Your pharmacist has information about hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril and seek emergency medical attention:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • fainting spells;

  • unusual fatigue, abnormal bleeding or bruising;

  • yellow skin or eyes;

  • confusion;

  • fever, chills, or a sore throat;

  • little or no urine;

  • irregular heartbeats; or

  • increased swelling.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril and talk to your doctor if you experience

  • dizziness or lightheadedness;

  • headache;

  • fatigue;

  • tingling or numbness in your arms, legs, hands, or feet;

  • excessive urination;

  • muscle weakness or cramps;

  • increased hunger or thirst;

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, or changes in taste;

  • sensitivity to sunlight;

  • dry, tickling cough;

  • anxiety or depression; or

  • itching, rash, or increased sweating.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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

Moexipril is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that moexipril is known to harm an unborn baby. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, moexipril can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril if you are pregnant.

Moexipril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions. Before taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure, causing increased drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril.

Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt may cause your body to retain water and may decrease the effects of hydrochlorothiazide. Ask your doctor or nurse about low-salt diet alternatives.

Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements without first talking to your doctor while taking moexipril and hydrochlorothiazide. These products could cause potassium levels in your blood to become dangerously high.

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril may increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

Heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes of fluid loss may lead to very low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting during therapy with hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril. Maintain proper fluid intake to prevent dehydration and related adverse effects.

What other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

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

  • a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others;

  • a salt substitute that contains potassium;

  • another diuretic (water pill) especially triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor);

  • cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

  • a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin);

  • an oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others;

  • tetracycline (Sumycin, others);

  • lithium (Lithane, Lithobid, Eskalith, others);

  • a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR, Tiazac), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), and others;

  • doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), or terazosin (Hytrin);

  • reserpine, guanadrel (Hylorel), or guanethidine (Ismelin);

  • a nitrate such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Transderm-Nitro, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran, others), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO), or isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, Sorbitrate);

  • a pain reliever such as codeine, morphine (MS Contin, MSIR, Roxanol, others), propoxyphene (Darvocet, Darvon, Wygesic), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), meperidine (Demerol), and others;

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

  • a steroid medicine such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), betamethasone (Celestone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone), prednisolone (Delta Cortef, Prelone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others.

You may not be able to take hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

What happens if I have an overdose of hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and unconsciousness.

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.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008