Quinapril/hydrochlorothiazide (By mouth)

Introduction

Hydrochlorothiazide (hye-droe-klor-oh-THYE-a-zide), Quinapril Hydrochloride (KWIN-a-pril hye-droe-KLOR-ide)

Treats high blood pressure. A lower blood pressure will reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. This medicine is a combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a diuretic (water pill).

Brand Name(s)

Accuretic

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 disease, liver disease, heart or blood vessel disease, congestive heart failure, low blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of mineral imbalance (such as high or low calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium in the blood). Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, glaucoma, gout, lupus, or an autoimmune disorder (such as a collagen vascular disease).
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain (with or without vomiting). This could be a symptom of a serious allergic reaction.
• This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much and cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. This is more likely to happen when you begin to use the medicine or if you become dehydrated. If you faint, stop using this medicine until you have talked to your doctor.
• Liver problems may occur. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in your upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin.
• Check with your doctor if you notice any signs of fever, chills, or sore throat. These could be symptoms of an infection caused by low white blood cell counts.
• Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs. Your doctor may want you an eye doctor to check your eyes.
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) could occur. Check with your doctor right away if you have abdominal or stomach pain; confusion; difficulty breathing; irregular heartbeat; nausea or vomiting; numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips; or weakness or heaviness of the legs.
• Allergic reactions, including angioedema, are rare, but are more common among black patients.
• 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.
• 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.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

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
• Blurred vision or changes in vision
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, or problems urinating
• Confusion, body weakness, uneven heartbeat, shortness of breath, or numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, or vomiting
• Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
• Fever, chills, sore throat, and body aches
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Severe stomach pain
• 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

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

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

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.

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.

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 lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), norepinephrine, tubocurarine, gold injections (such as sodium aurothiomalate), or a diuretic or water pill (such as amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene, Aldactazide®, Aldactone®, Dyrenium®, or Midamor®). Tell your doctor if you are also using a diabetes medicine (insulin or oral medicine such as Amaryl®, Actos?, Avandia®, Glipizide®, Glucotrol®, Glucophage®, or Glyburide®), medicines to lower cholesterol (such as cholestyramine, colestipol, Colestid®, or Questran®), pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, Advil®, Aleve®, Bextra®, Celebrex®, Feldene®, Indocin®, Motrin®, Orudis®, Relafen®, Vioxx®, or Voltaren®), a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), tetracycline (Sumycin®), or other blood pressure medicines.
• 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.