Chlorthalidone oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes chlorthalidone oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for chlorthalidone.

If you want to know more about chlorthalidone oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.

Chlorthalidone oral tablet is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.

Form and strengths of chlorthalidone

Chlorthalidone oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths: 25 milligrams (mg), 50 mg

Dosage of chlorthalidone

This article describes the recommended dosages for chlorthalidone oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of chlorthalidone oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of chlorthalidone in adults

Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of chlorthalidone oral tablet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose of chlorthalidone oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.

Dosage for high blood pressure

Chlorthalidone is approved to treat high blood pressure in adults. It’s prescribed as a single drug or along with other medications to treat high blood pressure.

The following are recommended dosages of chlorthalidone to treat high blood pressure:

• Starting dosage: 25 milligrams (mg) once daily
• Maintenance dosage: 12.5–100 mg once daily
• Maximum dosage: 100 mg once daily

A maintenance dosage is what you take for the remainder of treatment, usually after a starting dosage. Be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Dosage for fluid buildup

Chlorthalidone is approved to treat fluid buildup caused by certain conditions and drug side effects in adults. For this use, it’s prescribed along with other medications. Specifically, it treats fluid buildup from:

• cirrhosis
• congestive heart failure
• side effects of estrogen therapy
• side effects of corticosteroids

Chlorthalidone is also approved to treat fluid buildup caused by kidney problems, such as chronic kidney failure.

The following are typical dosages of chlorthalidone to treat fluid buildup in adults:

• Starting dosage:* 50–100 mg once daily
• Alternate starting dosage: 100 mg every other day
• Maintenance dosage:*†
  • a dosage lower than your starting dosage, or
  • a higher dosage of 150–200 mg daily or every other day
• Maximum dosage: 200 mg once daily

* Your starting dosage and maintenance dosage may be lower if you have certain health conditions. Be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
† A maintenance dosage is what you take for the remainder of treatment, usually after a starting dosage. The maintenance dosage will depend on your response to the drug.

Dosage adjustments for chlorthalidone

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of chlorthalidone oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
• your age
• other health conditions you may have
• other medications you may take
• your liver and kidney function
• your blood electrolyte levels

Missed dose of chlorthalidone

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of chlorthalidone oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of chlorthalidone oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about chlorthalidone oral tablet and its dosage.

Is there a 12.5-mg dose of chlorthalidone?

Yes, doctors might prescribe a chlorthalidone dose of 12.5 milligrams (mg) in some cases. It may be prescribed to treat high blood pressure. Or it could be prescribed to treat fluid buildup from heart failure.

But chlorthalidone doesn’t come in 12.5-mg tablets. If your doctor prescribes this dose, you’ll take half of a 25-mg tablet. Using a pill splitter can be helpful for this.

Your doctor also could prescribe a dose higher than 12.5 mg. The dosage they prescribe will depend on several factors, such as:

• how your body responds to the drug
• other medications you take
• your liver and kidney function
• your age

To learn more about your chlorthalidone dosage, talk with your doctor.

Do I need to take my dose of chlorthalidone with food?

Yes, the drugmaker recommends taking chlorthalidone oral tablet with food. Usually, you’ll take it in the morning with your first meal.

Chlorthalidone is part of a group of drugs called diuretics. This type of drug makes you urinate more often. But by taking your dose in the morning, it’ll interfere less with your sleep. You’ll be less likely to have to wake up during the night to urinate.

Talk with your doctor if you’d like to discuss your chlorthalidone dosage.

Is chlorthalidone taken long term?

Yes, doctors typically prescribe chlorthalidone oral tablet as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take chlorthalidone oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How chlorthalidone is taken

You’ll swallow chlorthalidone oral tablet. Depending on what your doctor prescribes, you’ll take it once daily or once every other day.

Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.

Typically, you’ll take chlorthalidone in the morning and always with food. Chlorthalidone belongs to a group of drugs called diuretics. This type of drug makes you urinate more often. But by taking your dose in the morning, it will interfere less with your sleep. You’ll be less likely to have to wake up during the night to urinate.

In some cases, you might need to split your chlorthalidone pill to get the right dose. If so, your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how to do that. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it. They can also let you know if you can safely chew or crush chlorthalidone tablets. The drugmaker hasn’t provided guidance about this.

Chlorthalidone coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for chlorthalidone when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of chlorthalidone

It’s important that you do not take more chlorthalidone oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of chlorthalidone overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• weakness
• nausea
• dizziness
• an imbalance of electrolytes in your blood

What to do if you take too much chlorthalidone

If you think you’ve taken too much chlorthalidone, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room. You may need supportive treatment at a hospital for your symptoms.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for chlorthalidone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of chlorthalidone oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take chlorthalidone oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Will a lower chlorthalidone oral tablet dosage cause fewer side effects?
• Do I need to drink more fluids when I take my chlorthalidone oral tablet dose?
• Will my chlorthalidone oral tablet dosage be lower if I have heart failure?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.