chlorothiazide (oral/injection)

What is the most important information I should know about chlorothiazide?

What is chlorothiazide?

Chlorothiazide is a diuretic (water pill) that is used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen.

Chlorothiazide is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Chlorothiazide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using chlorothiazide?

• you are unable to urinate; or
• you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• asthma;
• gout;
• diabetes;
• lupus; or
• high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

How should I take chlorothiazide?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Chlorothiazide injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when chlorothiazide is injected.

You may need to follow a special diet to keep your potassium from getting too low. Follow all instructions of your doctor or dietitian. Learn about the foods to eat or avoid to help control your condition.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using chlorothiazide.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, muscle weakness, feeling very thirsty or hot, or being unable to urinate.

What should I avoid while taking chlorothiazide?

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise, in hot weather, or by not drinking enough fluids. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

What are the possible side effects of chlorothiazide?

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• little or no urination;
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back;
• low blood cell counts --pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, easy bruising or bleeding; or
• signs of an electrolyte imbalance --dry mouth, increased thirst or urination, confusion, vomiting, constipation, muscle pain or weakness, leg cramps, dizziness, drowsiness, lack of energy, feeling restless, fast heartbeats, tingly feeling.

Common side effects may include:

• dizziness, spinning sensation;
• numbness or tingling;
• diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps;
• blurred vision;
• muscle spasm; or
• impotence, sexual problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect chlorothiazide?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• other blood pressure medications;
• cholestyramine or colestipol;
• lithium;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• steroid medicine; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect chlorothiazide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorothiazide.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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