Chlorthalidone oral tablet vs. hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet: A detailed guide

This article explains how chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet if you’d like more information about these drugs.

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Side effects of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide

Chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed below. Serious side effects of chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are also listed.

Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.

This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet. You can also check out these articles about chlorthalidone oral tablet side effects and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet side effects.

Mild side effects

Below are some of the mild side effects reported with chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet:

* An allergic reaction is possible with chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide. But it’s unclear whether this side effect occurred in studies for chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide.

Serious side effects

Below are serious side effects reported with chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet:

* An allergic reaction is possible with chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide. But it’s unclear whether this side effect occurred in studies for chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide.

For a lot of drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Questions about chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide

Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet.

Is chlorthalidone safer than hydrochlorothiazide?

It depends. Chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide are both in a group of drugs known as diuretics (water pills). Doctors prescribe them to manage high blood pressure and fluid retention.

Whether one drug is safer for you depends on many factors, including:

• why you’re taking the medication
• your age, health status, and medical history
• what other drugs you take
• how long you’ll take the drug

Either drug may have possible mild or serious side effects. Either may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.

For details about warnings with these drugs, see the “Warnings for chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide” section below.

If you have questions about whether chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide is a safer option for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you more specific advice based on your situation. Also see this article to learn how treatments for high blood pressure compare.

Between chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide, is one a better treatment for fluid retention?

Doctors may prescribe either chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide to treat fluid retention (edema). In studies, chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet were both effective for this purpose.

Keep in mind that your results from taking chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet may differ from those seen in studies.

Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors.

Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.

Dosage of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide

Below is dosage information for the conditions that both chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are prescribed to treat. To find detailed dosage information for all conditions that chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide treat, see these articles about chlorthalidone oral tablet dosage and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet dosage.

Below are dosages provided by the drugmakers of chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.

Chlorthalidone oral tablet’s dosage

Below is a summary of chlorthalidone oral tablet’s recommended dosages in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg). Your doctor will likely adjust your dosage based on how you respond.

Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s dosage

Below is a summary of hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s recommended dosages in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg). Your doctor will likely adjust your dosage based on how you respond.

Cost of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide

As with the cost of other medications, the cost of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide can vary. Their price may be affected by:

• whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy they’re purchased from
• the dosage and quantity prescribed

Coupons and cost savings

To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for chlorthalidone oral tablet and this coupon page for hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.

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

Brand-name versions

Below is information about whether chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is available in a brand-name version.

Chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are generic medications. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

Here’s a summary of brand names of chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet:

If your doctor prescribed chlorthalidone oral tablet, but you’d like to know about taking its brand-name version, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They can help determine whether the brand-name version is right for you.

Uses of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide

Here’s a summary of chlorthalidone oral tablet’s and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s approved uses:

For treating high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide along with other blood pressure medications. And for treating fluid retention (edema), your doctor may prescribe chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide along with other diuretic (water pill) medications.

If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is an option to consider.

Warnings for chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide

Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.

Some people should not take chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide, and others should take either medication with caution.

Warnings for chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are summarized below. Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.

You can view more detailed articles about chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for chlorthalidone oral tablet and hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

If you’re trying to decide whether chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is better for you, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best option.

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

• Is there a reason why chlorthalidone oral tablet might be better for my condition than hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet?
• Does chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet interact with any other drugs I’m taking?
• Is chlorthalidone oral tablet or hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet a better choice for me based on my health history?
• What should I do if I miss a dose of either drug?
• What monitoring is needed when I’m taking either of these drugs?

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.