Telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide (By mouth)

Introduction

Hydrochlorothiazide (hye-droe-klor-oh-THYE-a-zide), Telmisartan (tel-mi-SAR-tan)

Used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. This medicine is a combination of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and a diuretic (water pill).

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. Keep the tablets in the blister pack and remove only the medicine you need when you are ready to take your dose.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.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, including diuretics or "water pills" (such as furosemide, metolazone, spironolactone, triamterene, Aldactone®, Demadex®, Dyazide®, Lasix®, Lozol®, Maxzide®, or Zaroxolyn®).
• Tell your doctor if you are also using cholestyramine (Questran®), colestipol (Colestid®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithane®, Lithobid®), norepinephrine, ramipril (Altace®), insulin, or diabetes medicine that you take by mouth (such as glyburide, metformin, Actos®, Glucophage®, or Glucotrol®), or a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®) . Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), muscle relaxers (such as tubocurarine), or pain or arthritis medicine sometimes called "NSAIDs" (such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, Advil®, Aleve®, Bextra®, Celebrex®, Motrin®, or Vioxx®).
• Do not use medicines, supplements, or salt substitutes that contain potassium, unless your doctor tells you to.
• Drinking alcohol or taking narcotic pain relievers or sleeping pills with this medicine may intensify feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or faint. Tell your doctor if you are drinking alcohol or using pain relievers or sleeping pills.

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

Brand Name(s)

Micardis HCT

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant (especially in your second or third trimester) can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney problems, liver disease (including cirrhosis), asthma, congestive heart failure, diabetes, gallbladder disease or gallstones, glaucoma, gout, high cholesterol, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). Tell your doctor if you have an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low calcium, potassium, magnesium, or sodium in the blood), or if you are dehydrated or experiencing diarrhea or vomiting.
• This medicine may make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or faint, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position suddenly. Getting up slowly may help. These symptoms are more likely to occur when you begin taking this medicine, or when the dose is increased.
• Check with your doctor right away if you become sick while taking this medicine, especially with severe or continuing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These conditions may cause you to lose too much water or salt which may cause low blood pressure.
• Check with your doctor right away if you experience dizziness, fainting, confusion, muscle pain, weakness, and/or a fast heartbeat. Use extra care if you exercise or if the weather is hot. Heavy sweating can cause dehydration (loss of too much water) or electrolyte imbalances (loss of potassium, magnesium, or sodium in the body).
• Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. This could be a sign of a serious eye problem. Your doctor will want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• 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.

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.
• You may take this medicine with or without food.
• 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 while you are using this medicine.

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.

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
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Blurred vision and eye pain.
• Confusion, body weakness, and muscle twitching.
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate.
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, or vomiting.
• Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat.
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips.
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

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

• Back pain.
• Dizziness, tired feeling, or trouble sleeping.
• Increased sweating.
• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach upset.
• Mild skin rash or itching.
• Runny or stuffy nose.