Microzide

Before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as sulfites found in some brands), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: diabetes, gout, kidney disease, liver disease, lupus.This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.Severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting can increase the risk for a serious loss of body water (dehydration). Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids unless your doctor directs you otherwise.If you have diabetes, hydrochlorothiazide may affect your blood sugar levels. Check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.This drug may decrease your potassium levels. Ask your doctor about foods high in potassium (such as bananas, orange juice) or about using a salt substitute containing potassium. A potassium supplement may be prescribed by your doctor.This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This drug passes into breast milk, but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

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Reviewed on 4/16/2014 References

Hydrochlorothiazide is a prescription medication that is used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is also used to treat fluid retention (edema) caused by certain medications, congestive heart failure, severe liver disease, and kidney disease. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Actavis Pharma, Inc.

• Watson Pharma, Inc.

Before receiving this medication, tell your doctor if you have:

• gout
• diabetes
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• lupus

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking hydrochlorothiazide.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

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

Hydrochlorothiazide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medicine if you are unable to urinate.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise, in hot weather, or by not drinking enough fluids. 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.

Thiazide diuretic and antihypertensive agent.a

Absorption

Bioavailability

Variable absorption from GI tract.b

Onset

Diuretic effect: Within 2 hours; peak effect in 3–6 hours.b 109

Hypotensive effect: Generally 3–4 days.b

Duration

Diuretic effect: 6–12 hours.b 109

Food

Food decreases rate and extent of absorption of Microzide capsules.112

Distribution

Extent

Distributed in the extracellular space.a b

Does not cross blood-brain barrier.a

Readily crosses the placenta.a b 141

Distributed into breast milk.a h 141

Elimination

Metabolism

Not metabolized.a

Elimination Route

Excreted unchanged in urine;a ≥61% eliminated in 24 hours.a

Half-life

5.6–15 hours.a

Special Populations

In patients with uncompensated heart failure or impaired renal function, excretion may be delayed.b Effect of hemodialysis on elimination of the drug has not been determined.112

Storage

Oral

Capsules

Tight containers at <40°C, preferably at 15–30°C; protect from light, moisture, and freezing.112

Oral Solution

Tight containers at <40°C, preferably at 15–30°C.a Avoid freezing.a

Tablets

Tight containers at <40°C, preferably at 15–30°C; protect from light, moisture, and freezing.109 a

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• back, leg, or stomach pains
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• blood in the urine or stools
• bloody urine
• blue lips and fingernails
• blurred vision
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• chest pain
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• cloudy urine
• cold sweats
• confusion
• constipation
• cough or hoarseness
• coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
• coughing up blood
• cracks in the skin
• darkened urine
• decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
• decreased frequency or amount of urine
• diarrhea
• difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing
• difficulty with breathing
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
• dry mouth
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• fever
• flushed, dry skin
• fruit-like breath odor
• general body swelling
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• general feeling of tiredness or weakness
• greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
• headache
• hives
• increased blood pressure
• increased hunger
• increased sweating
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• indigestion
• itching
• joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• loss of appetite
• loss of heat from the body
• lower back or side pain
• muscle cramps or pain
• nausea or vomiting
• nosebleeds
• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
• pain in the joints or muscles
• painful or difficult urination
• pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• rash
• red, irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, swollen skin
• redness, soreness, or itching skin
• scaly skin
• seizures
• shortness of breath
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• sores, welting, or blisters
• sugar in the urine
• swelling of the face, fingers, legs, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• swollen or painful glands
• tenderness of salivary glands
• thickening of bronchial secretions
• tightness in the chest
• trembling
• troubled breathing
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight loss
• vomiting of blood
• weakness and heaviness of the legs
• weight gain
• wheezing
• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Cramping
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• muscle spasm
• pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
• redness or other discoloration of the skin
• restlessness
• sensation of spinning
• severe sunburn
• weakness

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• It is used to treat high blood pressure.
• It is used to get rid of extra fluid.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

Microzide is indicated in the management of hypertension either as the sole therapeutic agent, or in combination with other antihypertensives. Unlike potassium sparing combination diuretic products, Microzide may be used in those patients in whom the development of hyperkalemia cannot be risked, including patients taking ACE inhibitors.

Usage in Pregnancy: The routine use of diuretics in an otherwise healthy woman is inappropriate and exposes mother and fetus to unnecessary hazard. Diuretics do not prevent development of toxemia of pregnancy, and there is no satisfactory evidence that they are useful in the treatment of developed toxemia.

Edema during pregnancy may arise from pathological causes or from the physiologic and mechanical consequences of pregnancy. Diuretics are indicated in pregnancy when edema is due to pathologic causes, just as they are in the absence of pregnancy. Dependent edema in pregnancy resulting from restriction of venous return by the expanded uterus is properly treated through elevation of the lower extremities and use of support hose; use of diuretics to lower intravascular volume in this case is illogical and unnecessary. There is hypervolemia during normal pregnancy which is harmful to neither the fetus nor the mother (in the absence of cardiovascular disease), but which is associated with edema, including generalized edema in the majority of pregnant women. If this edema produces discomfort, increased recumbency will often provide relief. In rare instances this edema may cause extreme discomfort which is not relieved by rest. In these cases a short course of diuretics may provide relief and may be appropriate.