chlorthalidone
What is the most important information I should know about chlorthalidone?You should not use chlorthalidone if you are unable to urinate, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs. What is chlorthalidone?Chlorthalidone is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention. Chlorthalidone treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen. Chlorthalidone is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Chlorthalidone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorthalidone?You should not use chlorthalidone if you are allergic to it, or if: - you are unable to urinate; or
- you are allergic to sulfa drugs.
To make sure chlorthalidone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: - kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- asthma;
- gout;
- diabetes; or
- lupus.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Chlorthalidone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine. How should I take chlorthalidone?Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Your doctor may recommend you eat certain foods or take supplements to keep your potassium from getting too low. Follow the diet and medication plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. While using chlorthalidone, your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your blood and urine may both be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated. Chlorthalidone can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using a thiazide diuretic. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Do not allow liquid chlorthalidone to freeze. What happens if I miss a dose?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. What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, extreme thirst, muscle pain, or rapid heartbeats. What should I avoid while taking chlorthalidone?Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall. 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. What are the possible side effects of chlorthalidone?Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: - a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- little or no urination;
- severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back;
- pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, easy bruising or bleeding;
- high levels of calcium in your blood --nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst or urination, muscle weakness, bone pain, confusion, lack of energy, or tired feeling;
- low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
- low potassium --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or
- other signs of an an electrolyte imbalance --dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, feeling weak or restless, muscle pain, fast heart rate, seizure (convulsions).
Common side effects may include: - dizziness, spinning sensation;
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
- muscle spasm; or
- impotence, sexual problems.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What other drugs will affect chlorthalidone?Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you light-headed can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking chlorthalidone with a cold or allergy medicine, sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially: - other blood pressure medications;
- digoxin, digitalis;
- lithium;
- insulin or oral diabetes medicine; or
- steroid medicine.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with chlorthalidone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Where can I get more information?Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorthalidone.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every 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 outside 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 should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid 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. Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.01. Revision date: 2/23/2016.
Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.
Last modified on: 8 September 2017
|
|