hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan

What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

If you have diabetes, do not use hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

What is hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic (water pill). Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (sometimes called an ARB blocker).

Hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan is a combination medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan is usually given after other blood pressure medicines did not work or have stopped working.

Hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

If you have diabetes, do not use hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

You may also need to avoid taking hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• congestive heart failure;
• glaucoma;
• low or high levels of potassium in your blood;
• asthma or allergies;
• high cholesterol or triglyceride levels;
• gout;
• lupus;
• diabetes; or
• an allergy to penicillin or sulfa drugs.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

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.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan.

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 fast or slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• eye pain, vision problems;
• an unusual skin rash;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• kidney problems --little or no urination, painful or difficult urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath;
• low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
• high potassium --slow or unusual heart rate, weakness, loss of movement; or
• low potassium --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects include:

• nausea;
• dizziness;
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat; or
• high levels of uric acid in your blood.

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 hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan?

If you also take cholestyramine or colestipol, take your hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan dose 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take the other medicine.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• steroids;
• any other blood pressure medications;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• lithium; 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 hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan, 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 hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan.

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.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01. Revision date: 2/15/2021.