Amiloride; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ tablets

What are amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide tablets?

AMILORIDE; HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE (Moduretic®) is a diuretic combination which is also known as a 'water pill'. Diuretics increase the amount of urine passed, which causes the body to lose water and salt. This drug is used to treat high blood pressure or water retention and swelling caused by conditions such as heart, kidney, and liver disease. Amiloride does not cause your body to lose potassium the way that many diuretics do. Generic amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide tablets are available.

What should my health care professional know before I take amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• diabetes mellitus

• difficulty breathing or chronic lung disease

• gout or high blood levels of uric acid

• high blood levels of potassium

• kidney disease

• liver disease or jaundice

• low blood levels of sodium

• pancreatitis

• small amount of urine, or difficulty passing urine

• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

• unusual or allergic reaction to, amiloride, hydrochlorothiazide, other diuretics, sulfonamide drugs, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• breast-feeding

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

How should I take this medicine?

Take amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the capsules or tablets with a drink of water. Take this medication with food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Remember that you will need to pass urine frequently after taking amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide. Do not take your doses at a time of day that will cause you problems. Do not take at bedtime.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide?

• alcohol

• allopurinol

• amantadine

• amoxicillin

• amphotericin B

• antiinflammatory drugs including NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen), aspirin, or salicylates

• arsenic trioxide

• barbiturate medicines for inducing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions)

• bepridil

• calcium supplements

• cisplatin

• cyclosporine

• dofetilide

• drospirenone; ethinyl estradiol

• griseofulvin

• hawthorn

• heparin

• hormones such as cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone

• horse chestnut

• levomethadyl

• lithium

• medicines for asthma such as bronchodilators (such as albuterol)

• medicines for diabetes

• medicines for high blood pressure or heart failure (ACE inhibitors such as enalapril or ramipril, digoxin, angiotensin II antagonists such as losartan or valsartan, and others)

• methazolamide

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Azilect®, Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®, Zelapar™)

• neuromuscular blockers used during anesthesia

• some antibiotics which increase sensitivity to sunlight (sulfas, tetracyclines)

• some medicines for mental disorders (phenothiazines)

• vitamin A (retinol) creams or pills (such as tretinoin and others)

• some cholesterol-lowering medications (such as cholestyramine or colestipol)

• some prescription pain medicines for pain (such as codeine, morphine or oxycodone)

• potassium salts

• quinidine

• sotalol

• tacrolimus

• water pills or diuretics

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check your blood pressure regularly. Ask your prescriber or health care professional what your blood pressure should be, and when you should contact him or her.

You must not get dehydrated, ask your prescriber or health care professional how much fluid you need to drink a day. Older patients may be more sensitive to the dehydrating effects of diuretics. This drug will increase the amount of urine you pass. Do not stop taking this medication except on your prescriber's advice.

Check with your prescriber or health care professional if you get severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Watch your diet while you are taking this medication. Ask your prescriber or health care professional about diet and your potassium and sodium intake. Too much potassium can be harmful in some patients. Elderly patients, the severely ill, diabetics, or patients with kidney problems are more likely to suffer from the effects of too much potassium. Avoid salt-substitutes and nutritional supplements which contain potassium, unless your prescriber or health care professional tells you otherwise. Too much potassium can be very harmful. You may need to avoid foods that are high in potassium such as bananas, coconuts, dates, figs, prunes, apricots, peaches, grapefruit juice, tomato juice, and orange juice.

You may get dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you. To reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol can make you lightheaded, dizzy and increase confusion. Avoid or limit intake of alcoholic drinks.

Amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide may increase your blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic, keep a close check on blood and urine sugar. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change the dose of your diabetic medicine.

Amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide may make your skin more sensitive to sun or ultraviolet light. Keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds or booths.

If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic®).

What side effects may I notice from taking amiloride; hydrochlorothiazide?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• abdominal pain

• confusion

• difficulty breathing

• fast or irregular heartbeat, palpitations, chest pain

• fever, chills

• faintness or moderate dizziness

• hair loss (rare)

• muscle pain or cramps

• numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips

• pain or difficulty passing urine, reduced amount of urine passed

• palpitations or chest pain

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• skin rash, itching

• unusual bleeding or bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin

• unusual tiredness or weakness

• yellowing of the eyes or skin

• blurred vision, change in vision

• worsened gout pain

• decreased sexual function

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation

• diarrhea

• mild dizziness

• dry mouth

• fatigue or weakness

• decreased appetite

• headache

• increased sensitivity to the sun

• increased frequency of urination

• nausea, vomiting

• stomach gas or belching

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59—86 degrees F). Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.