hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren

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Pronunciation: HYE droe KLOR oh THYE a zide and a LIS ke rin

Brand: Tekturna HCT

What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

You should not use this medicine if you are unable to urinate, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away.

If you have diabetes, you should not use hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren together with certain heart or blood pressure medicines (such as Accupril, Benicar, Capoten, Cozaar, Diovan, Lotensin, Mavik, Prinivil, Vasotec, and many others).

What is hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

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

Aliskiren is an anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) medication. It works by decreasing substances in the body that narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure.

Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren is a combination medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to aliskiren or hydrochlorothiazide, or if:

  • you are unable to urinate; or
  • you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

If you have diabetes, you should not use hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren together with certain heart or blood pressure medicines, such as:

  • azilsartan (Edarbi, Edarbyclor), candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro, Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, Hyzaar), olmesartan (Azar, Benicar), valsartan (Diovan, Exforge, Tribenzor), telmisartan (Micardis); or
  • benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten, Capozide), enalapril (Vasotec, Vasoretic), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestoretic, Zestril), moexipril (Uniretic, Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril, Accuretic), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik, Tarka).

You may also need to avoid taking these medicines with hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

To make sure hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • kidney disease;
  • low or high levels of potassium in your blood;
  • asthma or allergies;
  • systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE);
  • glaucoma;
  • gout;
  • diabetes; or
  • an allergy to penicillin.

Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.

It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

You may take this medicine with or without food, but take it the same way every time.

You may have very low blood pressure while taking hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren. Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you feel light-headed.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

It may take up to 4 weeks before your blood pressure improves. Keep using this medicine as directed, 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.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep the tablets in their original container, along with the packet or canister of moisture-absorbing preservative.

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.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

If you also take cholestyramine or colestipol, avoid taking these medicines within 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.

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

Avoid taking this medicine with a high-fat meal, which can make it harder for your body to absorb aliskiren.

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 drinking alcohol. It can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.

What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; vomiting, severe stomach pain; dizziness, 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;
  • eye pain, vision problems;
  • low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
  • high potassium --nausea, slow or unusual heart rate, weakness, loss of movement;
  • low potassium --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
  • lupus-like symptoms --joint pain with fever, skin sores, butterfly-shaped skin rash on your cheeks and nose, numbness or pale appearance of your fingers or toes;
  • liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
  • severe skin reaction --fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, tired feeling;
  • cough;
  • joint pain;
  • diarrhea; or
  • flu symptoms (fever, chills, body aches).

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 hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • cyclosporine;
  • lithium;
  • any heart or blood pressure medicines;
  • a diuretic or "water pill";
  • insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
  • a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con;
  • salt substitutes that contain potassium;
  • antifungal medicine --itraconazole, ketoconazole;
  • cholesterol medication --atorvastatin, cholestyramine, colestipol, simvastatin, Lipitor, Zocor; or
  • NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, 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 hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.

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.

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