What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. It can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- anorexia
- appetite changes
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- fatigue
- headache
- leg pain
- nausea and vomiting
- passing gas
- sensitivity to light
- signs and symptoms of too much potassium in the blood:
- confusion
- irregular heartbeat
- nervousness
- numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
- shortness of breath or difficult breathing
- unusual tiredness or muscle weakness
- weakness or heaviness of legs
- skin rash or itchy skin
- stomach pain or cramps
- trouble breathing
- weakness
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take this medication.
Asthma: If you have asthma you may have a sensitivity reaction to hydrochlorothiazide. If you have asthma, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) disease: If you have cardiopulmonary
disease you should be closely monitored by your doctor while taking this medication.
Cholesterol: Increases in cholesterol and triglyceride levels may occur
when taking this medication.
Diabetes: The hydrochlorothiazide portion of this medication may make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend adjusting the dose of antidiabetic medicationss, including insulin.
If you have diabetes you may also be at increased risk for high blood potassium levels. If you have diabetes, your doctor may monitor your blood potassium levels more often.
Electrolytes: This medication can affect the levels of other electrolytes
in addition to potassium such as sodium, magnesium, and chloride. Your doctor
will periodically check to see if these levels are in balance.
Gout: Gout or increases in uric acid may caused by this medication.
High blood potassium: This medication may cause high blood potassium
levels especially for seniors, people with diabetes, and people with
impaired kidney function. Warning signs or symptoms of high potassium include:
- confusion
- irregular heartbeat
- nervousness
- numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- weakness or heaviness of the legs
Liver function impairment: If you have severe liver disease you should be
closely monitored while taking this medication.
Lupus: This medication may worsen or activate lupus.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless
the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication,
contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known whether amiloride passes into breast
milk, but hydrochlorothiazide does. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are
taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether
you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have
not been established for children.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between amiloride - hydrochlorothiazide and any of the following:
- alcohol
- angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., enalapril, ramipril)
- angiotensin II receptor antagonists (e.g., losartan, valsartan)
- barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital)
- cholestyramine resin
- colestipol
- corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) and ACTH
- cyclosporine
- digoxin
- medications that increase potassium levels (such as potassium supplements, spironolactone,
triamterene, and salt substitutes containing potassium)
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- lithium
- medications used to lower blood sugar in diabetes (e.g., insulin, glyburide,
metformin)
- medications that lower blood pressure
- muscle relaxants (e.g., tubocurarine)
- narcotics (e.g., codeine, morphine)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; e.g., naproxen, diclofenac,
ibuprofen)
- norepinephrine
- tacrolimus
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If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.