Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide (hye droe klor oh THYE a zide) oral tablet is prescribed for edema (fluid buildup) and high blood pressure. It’s used in adults and children. It’s a generic medication and isn’t available in a brand-name version. Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a group of drugs called diuretics.
Hydrochlorothiazide (hye droe klor oh THYE a zide) oral tablet is prescribed for edema (fluid buildup) and high blood pressure. It’s used in adults and children. It’s a generic medication and isn’t available in a brand-name version. Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a group of drugs called diuretics.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 25mg
- • 90 Tablets
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Introduction
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Written by Helen Marshall, BPharm, MRPharmS, on April 20, 2023
This article describes hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Below you’ll find coupon options for hydrochlorothiazide.
Side effects of hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide may cause mild or serious side effects (also known as adverse effects). More common mild side effects of hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age and overall health and any other medications you take.
To learn more about hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s side effects, see this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information for hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet.
Mild side effects
More common mild side effects reported with hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are listed below.
With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.
Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s mild side effects include:
- diarrhea
- dizziness, especially when standing up
- weakness
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- muscle spasms (tightening that you can’t control)
- increased skin sensitivity to sunlight
- erectile dysfunction
- hair loss
- mild allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for hydrochlorothiazide” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are listed below. With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common.
If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s serious side effects include:
- kidney problems, such as kidney failure
- electrolyte (mineral) imbalance, such as low blood levels of potassium or sodium (salt)
- pancreas inflammation (swelling and damage)
- sudden, temporary nearsightedness and closed-angle glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
- increased risk of a type of skin cancer
- severe allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for hydrochlorothiazide” section below.
Common questions about hydrochlorothiazide
Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet.
Can I take hydrochlorothiazide with other blood pressure medications, such as lisinopril or losartan?
Yes, you usually can. In fact, hydrochlorothiazide is commonly prescribed with other blood pressure medications. Examples include lisinopril (Zestril), quinapril, losartan (Cozaar), and irbesartan (Avapro). Combination medications containing hydrochlorothiazide with other blood pressure medications are also available.
If you’re prescribed hydrochlorothiazide with another blood pressure medication, you can ask your doctor if there’s a combination medication available. They can recommend whether a combination medication is right for you.
How does hydrochlorothiazide compare with other similar drugs, such as chlorthalidone?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic medication (sometimes called a water pill). Diuretics increase the amount of fluid your body gets rid of in your urine. They’re used to treat edema (fluid buildup) and high blood pressure.
Other diuretic medications include chlorthalidone (Thalitone) and furosemide (Lasix). These drugs and hydrochlorothiazide have similar side effects, but there are some differences between them.
Hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone are both thiazide diuretics. These drugs are most often used for high blood pressure. Furosemide is a loop diuretic. It’s stronger than thiazides and is most often used for edema, especially edema caused by heart failure.
To learn more about how hydrochlorothiazide compares with other diuretics, talk with your doctor.
Is hydrochlorothiazide a potassium-sparing diuretic?
No, hydrochlorothiazide is not a potassium-sparing diuretic. Instead, it’s a type of diuretic called a thiazide. Both these types of diuretic make your body get rid of excess fluid in your urine.
Thiazide diuretics also cause your body to get rid of potassium in your urine. As a result, they can sometimes cause low blood potassium levels. Potassium-sparing diuretics don’t cause your body to lose potassium. Examples of potassium-sparing diuretics include amiloride (Midamor) and spironolactone (Aldactone).
How does hydrochlorothiazide work? And how long does it take to start working?
Hydrochlorothiazide works by helping your body get rid of excess fluid. Specifically, the drug makes your kidneys remove more fluid than usual from your blood. This lowers the pressure inside your blood vessels. The excess fluid leaves your body in your urine.
Hydrochlorothiazide starts working about 2 hours after you take a dose. The drug’s effects are strongest about 4 hours after you take it, and the effects last for about 6 to 12 hours.
Is there a best time of day to take hydrochlorothiazide? What should I do if I miss a dose?
You’ll typically take hydrochlorothiazide once or twice per day. It’s usually best to take your first dose in the morning and your second dose (if prescribed) about 6 hours later.
Hydrochlorothiazide increases urination. So if you take a dose in the late afternoon or evening, you might need to get up in the night to use the bathroom.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take two doses together to make up for missing a dose.
Can hydrochlorothiazide tablets be crushed, split, or chewed?
Maybe. The drugmaker hasn’t stated whether hydrochlorothiazide tablets may be crushed or chewed. But some strengths of the tablets are scored (have a line in the middle) and can be split. You can crush or chew hydrochlorothiazide tablets if your doctor or pharmacist recommends this.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to take your tablets.
Uses of hydrochlorothiazide
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide for certain conditions. Approved uses for hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet are described below.
Use for high blood pressure
Doctors may prescribe hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet for treating high blood pressure. It’s used for this purpose in adults and children of all ages. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.
With high blood pressure, you don’t usually have symptoms. However, high blood pressure raises your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Lowering your blood pressure reduces this risk.
Hydrochlorothiazide is often prescribed together with other blood pressure medications to help lower your blood pressure.
Use for edema
Doctors may prescribe hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet for treating edema (fluid buildup) caused by certain medical conditions or medications. It’s used for edema caused by heart failure, kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis. It’s also used for edema caused by corticosteroid drugs and drugs that contain estrogen.
Hydrochlorothiazide is used for edema in adults and children of all ages. It may be prescribed as a long-term or short-term treatment.
With edema, you have a buildup of fluid in your body. This may cause different symptoms depending on the cause of the edema and where the fluid builds up:
- With heart failure, fluid may build up in your lungs and lower legs. This can cause shortness of breath and swollen ankles or feet.
- With liver cirrhosis, fluid may build up and cause swelling in your belly area.
- With kidney disease, fluid buildup may cause swelling in your legs.
Hydrochlorothiazide may be prescribed together with other medications for these conditions.
Interactions of hydrochlorothiazide
For some medications, certain things may affect how the drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.
Before you take hydrochlorothiazide, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. They can check for interactions these items may cause with hydrochlorothiazide. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:
- prescription medications
- over-the-counter medications
- vitamins, herbs, or supplements
To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for hydrochlorothiazide” section below.
Dosage of hydrochlorothiazide
The dosage of hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet your doctor prescribes may vary based on your condition and certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about the dosage you should take.
Taking hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is taken by mouth.
Your doctor will talk with you about how to take hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet. They’ll explain how much to take and how often. Always follow your doctor’s recommendation.
Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet can be taken with or without food.
See the “Common questions about hydrochlorothiazide” section for information on missed doses and the best time to take this drug.
Overdose of hydrochlorothiazide
You should not take more hydrochlorothiazide than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to serious side effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve taken too much hydrochlorothiazide, 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 concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding and hydrochlorothiazide
Information about hydrochlorothiazide and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.
Hydrochlorothiazide and pregnancy
There are risks to taking hydrochlorothiazide during pregnancy. But there are also risks with having unmanaged high blood pressure or edema (fluid buildup) while pregnant. (Keep in mind that hydrochlorothiazide is used for managing these conditions.)
If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options during pregnancy. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should take hydrochlorothiazide during pregnancy.
Hydrochlorothiazide and breastfeeding
Based on the drug’s studies, hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet should not be taken while breastfeeding. However, based on studies of the drug since it’s been on the market, the drug isn’t expected to cause any side effects in a child who’s breastfed. So the drug may be safe to take while breastfeeding.
That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically. High doses could decrease the amount of breastmilk your body makes. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with hydrochlorothiazide.
Warnings for hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide should not be taken by certain people. And it should be taken cautiously by certain other people. Precautions for taking this drug are described below.
Warnings
Hydrochlorothiazide could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is a safe option for you.
Tell your doctor about your overall health and any past health conditions before you take hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet. Health conditions and other factors you and your doctor should discuss include:
- allergy to sulfonamide (“sulfa”) drugs
- kidney problems, including problems with how much urine you’re producing
- liver problems
- electrolyte imbalances, such as low blood levels of potassium, sodium, or magnesium
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
- gout
- lupus
Allergic reaction
Hydrochlorothiazide can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe hydrochlorothiazide. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.
A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
Severe allergic reactions, including severe skin reactions, are possible with hydrochlorothiazide. These skin reactions can be life-threatening.
A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms, among others:
- swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
- swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems
- severe skin rash, blistering, or peeling, which can be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis
If you have an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Hydrochlorothiazide coupon
You may be able to save money on your prescription for hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet by using our Perks discount coupons. These can be found at the end of this article.
If you have questions about how to pay for hydrochlorothiazide, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more about the cost of hydrochlorothiazide in this article.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about hydrochlorothiazide or would like more details about it.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Can I take hydrochlorothiazide for weight loss?
- What dosage will I take?
- Will I need to take other medications with hydrochlorothiazide?
- If I have side effects with hydrochlorothiazide, how will these be managed?
Article resources
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Hydrochlorothiazide- hydrochlorothiazide tablet. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/a85f69f5-ba97-478d-e053-2a95a90a0a97/spl-doc
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.
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