AMLODIPINE, HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, AND VALSARTAN

(am LOE di peen, HYE droe klor oh THYE a zide, val SAR tan) Brand: Exforge HCT

What is the most significant information I must know about amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• You must not take this medicine if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, or if you are unable to urinate.

• Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• If you have diabetes, do not use amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan together with any medicine that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna).

What is amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

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

• Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist that keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

• Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan is a combination medication used to treat tall blood pressure (hypertension).

• This medicine is generally given after another blood pressure medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

• Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• You must not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or:

· if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to other blood pressure medication;

· if you are allergic to any sulfa drug; or

· if you are unable to urinate.

• If you have diabetes, do not use amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan together with any medicine that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna).

• You may also need to avoid taking this medication with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

• To create certain amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis);

· liver disease;

· congestive heart failure;

· an electrolyte imbalance (such as tall levels of calcium, or low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);

· low blood pressure;

· glaucoma;

· lupus;

· a history of gallstones;

· gout;

· diabetes; or

· a penicillin allergy.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan can reason injury or death to the unborn child if you take the medication during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control.

• It is not known whether amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How must I take amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• You may take this medication with or without food.

• Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking this medication or when your doze is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

• Vomiting, diarrhea, or hard sweating can reason you to become dehydrated. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan. Drink plenty of water every day while you are taking this medication.

• Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than normal.

• If you need surgery or dental work, speak the surgeon or dentist onward of time that you are using this medicine.

• It may take up to 2 weeks till your blood pressure improves. Keep using this medication as directed, even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking this medication, unless your doctor has told you to.

• Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may magnify determined side effects of this medicine.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

What are the possible side effects of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

· a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

· swelling in your hands or feet;

· joint pain or swelling with fever, headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath;

· skin sores, butterfly-shaped skin rash on your cheeks and nose (worsens in sunlight);

· numbness, cool feeling, or pale appearance of your fingers or toes;

· blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos near lights;

· low potassium (confusion, uneven heart course, extreme thirst, heighten urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or

· tall potassium (slow heart course, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling).

• General side effects may include:

· mild dizziness;

· headache, weary feeling;

· nausea, upset stomach;

· back pain, muscle spasms; or

· stuffy nose, sore throat, sinus pain.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan?

• Much drugs can interact with this medication. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Speak your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan, especially:

· any another blood pressure medications;

· cholestyramine or colestipol;

· cyclosporine;

· St. John's wort;

· an antibiotic--ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, metronidazole, norfloxacin, telithromycin, tetracycline;

· antifungal medication--clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

· cancer medicine such as cyclophosphamide or methotrexate;

· cholesterol lowering medication such as simvastatin;

· a diuretic or "water pill";

· heart medication--amiodarone, digoxin, dronedarone, nicardipine, lidocaine, quinidine;

· hepatitis C medications--boceprevir, telaprevir;

· HIV/AIDS medication--atazanavir, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, efavirenz, darunavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir;

· insulin or oral diabetes medication;

· medication for depression or mental illness--desipramine, haloperidol, lithium, nefazodone, sertraline;

· muscle relaxers, narcotic pain medication, sleeping pills, sedatives;

· NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others;

· seizure medication--carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, primidone;

· steroid medication (prednisone and others); or

· tuberculosis medication--isoniazid, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine.

• This list is not complete and much another drugs can interact with amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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