Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (By mouth)

Introduction

Hydrochlorothiazide (hye-droe-klor-oh-THYE-a-zide), Losartan Potassium (loe-SAR-tan poe-TAS-ee-um)

Treats high blood pressure. Reduces the risk of stroke in patients with high blood pressure and enlargement of the heart. This medicine is a combination of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and a diuretic (water pill).

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• This medicine should not be the first medicine you use to treat your condition. It is meant to be used only after you have tried other medicines that have not worked or have caused unwanted side effects.
• Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids if you exercise, sweat more than usual, or have diarrhea or vomiting.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby, especially after the first 3 months of pregnancy. Use an effective form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney problems, liver disease (including cirrhosis), asthma, allergies, congestive heart failure, gout, high cholesterol, or lupus. Tell your doctor if you have an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low calcium, potassium, magnesium, or sodium in the blood).
• This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much and cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. If you faint, stop using this medicine until you have talked to your doctor. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy. Low blood pressure is more likely to happen when you begin to use the medicine.
• Check with your doctor right away if you experience dizziness, fainting, confusion, muscle pain, weakness, or a fast heartbeat. Drink more fluids when you exercise or if the weather is hot. Heavy sweating or diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalances (loss of sodium, potassium, or magnesium). Check with your doctor if you become sick with severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Tell your doctor if you have diabetes. This medicine may raise your blood sugar levels.
• This medicine may be less effective in black patients.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• Even if you feel well, do not stop using this medicine without asking your doctor. This medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it will help lower it and keep it down. You may have to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

Brand Name(s)

Hyzaar

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using other blood pressure medicines (such as candesartan, enalapril, lisinopril, losartan, olmesartan, valsartan, Accupril®, Atacand®, Avapro®, Cozaar®, Lotrel®, or Zestril®) or diuretics or water pills (such as amiloride, furosemide, metolazone, spironolactone, triamterene, Aldactone®, Demadex®, Lasix®, Lozol®, Maxzide®, Midamor®, or Zaroxolyn®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), fluconazole (Diflucan®), glycyrrhizin (found in licorice), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), norepinephrine, rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), tubocurarine, medicine to lower cholesterol (such as cholestyramine, colestipol, Colestid®, or Questran®), insulin or diabetes medicine that you take by mouth (such as glipizide, glyburide, metformin, Actos®, Amaryl®, Avandia®, or Glucotrol®), or a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®). Tell your doctor if you also use pain or arthritis medicine such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, Advil®, Aleve®, Bextra®, Celebrex®, Motrin®, or Vioxx®.
• Ask your doctor before you use medicines, supplements, or salt substitutes that contain potassium.
• Alcohol, narcotic pain relievers, or sleeping pills may cause you to feel more lightheaded, dizzy, or faint when used with this medicine.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blood in the urine, lower back pain, side pain, or sharp back pain just below the ribs
• Confusion, body weakness, shortness of breath, or numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, or muscle cramps
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Loss of appetite, or pain in your upper stomach
• Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• Rapid weight gain
• Seizures
• Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, or sore throat

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088