HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE AND METHYLDOPA

(HYE droe KLOR oh THYE a zide and METH il DOE pa) Brand: Aldoril 15, Aldoril 25

What is the most significant information I must know about hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to methyldopa (Apresoline) or hydrochlorothiazide, if you are unable to urinate, or if you have liver malady (including cirrhosis or hepatitis), or a history of liver problems caused by taking methyldopa.

• Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the recent 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

• Till using hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa, speak your doctor if you have kidney malady (or are on dialysis), angina pectoris (chest pain), glaucoma, asthma, gout, lupus, diabetes, an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin, or if you have ever had a stroke.

• Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercice and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you must drink. In some cases, drinking too many liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

• There are much another drugs that can interact with hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor. Hold a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

• Hold 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.

What is hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

• Methyldopa lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of determined chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels (veins and arteries) to slackening (widen) and your heart to beat more slowly and easily.

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

• The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa is used to treat tall blood pressure (hypertension).

• Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my doctor till taking hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to methyldopa (Apresoline) or hydrochlorothiazide, or if you have:

· liver malady (including cirrhosis or hepatitis);

· a history of liver problems caused by taking methyldopa; or

· if you are unable to urinate.

• To create certain you can safely take hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

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

· angina pectoris (chest pain);

· glaucoma;

· asthma;

· gout;

· lupus;

· diabetes;

· an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin; or

· if you have ever had a stroke.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Conditions that may reason very low blood pressure include: vomiting, diarrhea, hard sweating, heart malady, dialysis, a low salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you must drink while taking hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa. Speak your doctor if you have a prolonged diseases that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

• Your blood and urine may both be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.

• If you need surgery or medical trials, speak the doctor onward of time that you are taking medicine that contains hydrochlorothiazide. You may need to stop using the medication for a short time.

• Hold 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, heat, and light.

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.

• Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medicine guide.

What must I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

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

• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa can create you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

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

• Stop using hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· eye pain, vision problems;

· feeling like you might pass out;

· chest pain, slow heart course, feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· swelling, rapid weight gain;

· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

· pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;

· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, quick heart rate;

· joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizure (convulsions);

· numbness, drooping, or loss of movement in one side of your face;

· jerky or rolling muscle movements you can't control;

· tall blood sugar (increased thirst, heighten urination, famine, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);

· urinating smaller than normal or not at all;

· fever, skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness; or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling;severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· stomach cramps, diarrhea, constipation;

· depressed mood, trouble concentrating;

· joint pain;

· muscle pain or weakness;

· restless feeling;

· dizziness, drowsiness, headache;

· soreness or black discoloration of your tongue;

· blurred vision; or

· impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

• 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 hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);

· colestipol (Colestid);

· digoxin (Lanoxin);

· insulin or oral diabetes medicine;

· lithium (Eskalith, LithoBid);

· a barbiturate such as phenobarbital (Solfoton);

· medicines that contain iron, such as ferrous gluconate (Fergon, Ferralet, Simron), or ferrous sulfate (Chem-Sol, Feosol, Slow Fe, and others);

· muscle relaxers or narcotic pain medicine;

· steroids (prednisone and others);

· another blood pressure medications; or

· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa.

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.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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