What is the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide?

What is the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide?

Side Effects

• Back, leg, or stomach pains.
• black, tarry stools.
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin.
• bloating.
• blood in the urine or stools.
• blue lips and fingernails.
• chest pain or tightness.
• clay-colored stools.

What is the action of hydrochlorothiazide?

The drug has been widely used to treat hypertension globally and is relatively very safe. Hydrochlorothiazide acts on the distal convoluted tubules and inhibits the sodium chloride co-transporter system. This action leads to a diuretic action that lowers blood pressure, but there is also a potassium loss in the urine.

How does hydrochlorothiazide work in the body?

Hydrochlorothiazide is in a class of medications called diuretics (‘water pills’). It works by causing the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.

Is hydrochlorothiazide a good blood pressure medicine?

Hydrochlorothiazide is used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly.

What is the best time to take hydrochlorothiazide?

If you are to take a single dose a day, take it in the morning after breakfast. If you are to take more than one dose a day, take the last dose no later than 6 p.m., unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Is hydrochlorothiazide safe for kidneys?

Hydrochlorothiazide can aggravate kidney dysfunction and is used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Hydrochlorothiazide can lower blood potassium, sodium, and magnesium levels.

Is hydrochlorothiazide safe to take?

Take as directed Hydrochlorothiazide is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: Your swelling and high blood pressure might get worse. High blood pressure raises your risk of heart attack or stroke.

What is thiazide used for?

Thiazide diuretics are recommended as one of the first drug treatments for high blood pressure. If diuretics aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure, your doctor might add other blood pressure medications to your treatment plan.

What is a common side effect of thiazide diuretics?

Owing to their ability to increase the production of urine, these drugs may lower levels in the body of potassium and magnesium which also are present in urine. Thiazide diuretics may increase uric acid levels in blood. Like other antihypertensive medications, thiazides cause sexual dysfunction.

Why are thiazides used in hypertension?

By decreasing sodium reabsorption, thiazide use acutely results in an increase in fluid loss to urine, which leads to decreased extracellular fluid (ECF) and plasma volume. This volume loss results in diminished venous return, increased renin release, reduced cardiac output and decreased blood pressure [7].

Are thiazide diuretics safe?

Diuretics are generally safe. Side effects include increased urination and sodium loss. Diuretics can also affect blood potassium levels. If you take a thiazide diuretic, your potassium level can drop too low (hypokalemia), which can cause life-threatening problems with your heartbeat.