High Blood Pressure Treatment

Cardizem This page contains drug information on Cardizem.
The information provided includes the following:
what is Cardizem
the possible side effects of Cardizem
what happens if you miss a dose of Cardizem
what happens if you overdose with Cardizem
the most important information about Cardizem
how to use Cardizem
other drugs that may affect Cardizem
what to avoid while using Cardizem

Generic Name: diltiazem (dil TYE a zem)
Brand Names: Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cardizem SR, Cartia XT, Dilacor XR, Diltia XT, Tiazac

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

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Diltiazem may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking your medication, your condition could become worse.
• Follow any diet or exercise recommendations for your condition.
• Do not open, break, crush, or chew any extended-release forms of diltiazem such as Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cardizem SR, Cartia XT, Diltia XT, or Dilacor XR. Swallow them whole.

What is diltiazem?

• Diltiazem is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Diltiazem relaxes (widens) your blood vessels (veins and arteries), which makes it easier for your heart to pump and reduces the workload on it.
• Diltiazem is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), to treat angina (chest pain), and to slow unusually fast heartbeats.
• Diltiazem may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diltiazem?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

• ever had an allergic reaction to any form of diltiazem in the past;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease; or
• other diseases of the heart or blood vessels such as sick sinus syndrome, aortic stenosis, congestive heart failure, heart block, low blood pressure, or coronary artery disease.

You may not be able to take diltiazem, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Talk to your doctor about consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you are taking diltiazem. Diltiazem can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice and the interaction may have dangerous effects.

Diltiazem is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether diltiazem will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take diltiazem without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Diltiazem passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take diltiazem without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take diltiazem?

• Take diltiazem exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Do not open, break, crush, or chew any extended-release forms of diltiazem such as Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cardizem SR, Cartia XT, Diltia XT, or Dilacor XR. Swallow them whole.
• If swallowing is difficult, the Tiazac capsules may be opened and the contents sprinkled onto a spoonful of applesauce. The applesauce should be swallowed immediately, without chewing, and followed with a glass of water to ensure complete swallowing of the capsule contents. The applesauce should not be hot and should be soft enough to enable swallowing without chewing. The mixture must be consumed immediately and not stored for later use.
• Dilacor XR and Diltia XT should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach.
• It is important to take diltiazem regularly to get the most benefit.
• Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking the medication, your condition could become worse.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, or other medical evaluations during treatment with diltiazem to monitor progress and side effects.
• Store diltiazem at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a diltiazem overdose include dizziness, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, an unusually fast or slow heartbeat, coma, slurred speech, and confusion.

What should I avoid while taking diltiazem?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Diltiazem may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking diltiazem.
• Follow any recommendations your doctor makes about diet or exercise.

What are the possible side effects of diltiazem?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking diltiazem and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• unusually fast or slow heartbeats;
• severe dizziness or fainting;
• abnormal behavior or psychosis;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• swelling of the legs or ankles.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take diltiazem and talk to your doctor if you experience

• fatigue or tiredness;
• headache;
• flushing (redness);
• insomnia and vivid dreams;
• nausea, diarrhea, or constipation;
• difficulty urinating;
• numbness; or
• a rash.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect diltiazem?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• other medicines to treat the same or another heart condition;
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
• carbamazepine (Tegretol);
• digoxin (Lanoxin);
• midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion); or
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or rifabutin (Mycobutin).

You may not be able to take diltiazem, or you may require a dosage adjustment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Talk to your doctor about consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you are taking diltiazem. Diltiazem can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice and the interaction may have dangerous effects.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with diltiazem or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Esidrix
This page contains drug information on Esidrix.
The information provided includes the following:
what is Esidrix
the possible side effects of Esidrix
what happens if you miss a dose of Esidrix
what happens if you overdose with Esidrix v the most important information about Esidrix
how to use Esidrix v other drugs that may affect Esidrix
what to avoid while using Esidrix

Generic Name: hydrochlorothiazide (hye dro klor oh THYE a zide)
Brand Names: Carozide, Diaqua, Esidrix, Ezide, Hydro Par, HydroDIURIL, Loqua, Microzide, Oretic

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

• To reduce nighttime urination, take hydrochlorothiazide early in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness.
If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.

What is hydrochlorothiazide?

• Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill). It decreases the amount of fluid in the body by increasing the amount of salt and water lost in the urine.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is used to lower blood pressure and to decrease edema (swelling).
• Hydrochlorothiazide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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

Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctor if you have an allergy to sulfa-based drugs such as sulfa antibiotics. You may have an allergic reaction to hydrochlorothiazide.

Before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you have

• diabetes;
• gout;
• a collagen vascular disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
• pancreatitis;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease; or
• high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides (types of fat) in your blood.

You may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Hydrochlorothiazide is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take hydrochlorothiazide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take hydrochlorothiazide?

• Take hydrochlorothiazide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• To reduce nighttime urination, take hydrochlorothiazide early in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• It is important to take hydrochlorothiazide regularly to get the most benefit.
• Do not stop taking hydrochlorothiazide suddenly even if you feel better. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood pressure monitoring or other medical evaluations during treatment with hydrochlorothiazide to monitor progress and side effects.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a hydrochlorothiazide overdose include increased urination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, lethargy, and unconsciousness.

What should I avoid while taking hydrochlorothiazide?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt may cause the body to retain water and may decrease the effects of hydrochlorothiazide.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Hydrochlorothiazide may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.
• Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously dehydrated while taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What are the possible side effects of hydrochlorothiazide?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking hydrochlorothiazide and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• unusual fatigue;
• abnormal bleeding or bruising;
• yellow skin or eyes;
• confusion;
• irregular heartbeats or a fluttering feeling in the chest; or
• little or no urine.

Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Continue to take hydrochlorothiazide and talk to your doctor if you experience

• dizziness, especially when rising from sitting or lying down;
• tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, or feet;
• excessive urination;
• muscle weakness or cramps;
• increased hunger or thirst;
• nausea or decreased appetite;
• abdominal pain;
• sensitivity to sunlight; or
• impotence.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect hydrochlorothiazide?

Before taking hydrochlorothiazide tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:

• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
• the cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
• a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), fenoprofen (Nalfon), ketorolac (Toradol), or flurbiprofen (Ansaid);
• a diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others; or
• a steroid medicine such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone), prednisolone (Delta Cortef, Prelone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others.

You may not be able to take hydrochlorothiazide, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medications listed above.

Also, before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine to treat high blood pressure, water retention, heart problems, prostate problems, or another condition. Some medicines used to treat these conditions may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and the effects on your heart may be increased.

Hydrochlorothiazide may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, seizure medicines, antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with hydrochlorothiazide or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Lasix This page contains drug information on Lasix. The information provided includes the following: what is Lasix the possible side effects of Lasix what happens if you miss a dose of Lasix what happens if you overdose with Lasix the most important information about Lasix how to use Lasix other drugs that may affect Lasix what to avoid while using Lasix

Generic Name: furosemide (fur OH seh mide) Brand Names: Lasix, Lo-Aqua

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

• To reduce nighttime urination, take furosemide early in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Promptly report any muscle weakness or cramps to your doctor.

What is furosemide?

• Furosemide is in a class of drugs called loop diuretics (water pills). It decreases the amount of fluid in the body by increasing the amount of salt and water lost in the urine.
• Furosemide is used to reduce swelling in the body caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease.
• Furosemide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking furosemide?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

• an allergy to sulfa medicines such as sulfa-based antibiotics,
• kidney disease,
• liver disease,
• diabetes mellitus,
• gout, or
• systemic lupus erythematosus.

You may not be able to take furosemide, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Furosemide is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether furosemide will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take furosemide without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Furosemide passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take furosemide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take furosemide?

• Take furosemide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• To reduce nighttime urination, take furosemide early in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• It is important to take furosemide regularly to get the most benefit.
• Do not stop taking furosemide suddenly even if you feel better. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse.
• Store furosemide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember within 12 hours. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
• If you take more than one dose daily, take the missed dose up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a furosemide overdose include weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, confusion, irregular pulse, nausea, and vomiting.

What should I avoid while taking furosemide?

• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase the side effects of furosemide.

What are the possible side effects of furosemide

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking furosemide and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• muscle cramps or weakness;
• an irregular heartbeat;
• abdominal pain or diarrhea;
• low blood pressure (weakness, dizziness, fatigue); or
• decreased hearing.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take furosemide and talk to your doctor if you experience

• dry mouth or increased thirst;
• headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness;
• constipation;
• increased sensitivity to sunlight;
• a rash;
• jaundice (yellow skin or eyes);
• ringing in the ears;
• nausea;
• easy bleeding or bruising; or
• numbness in the hands or feet.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect furosemide?

Before taking furosemide tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:

• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);
• probenecid (Benemid);
• a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), fenoprofen (Nalfon), ketorolac (Toradol), or flurbiprofen (Ansaid); or
• a diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

You may not be able to take furosemide, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medications listed above.

Also, before taking furosemide, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine to treat high blood pressure, water retention, heart problems, prostate problems, or another condition. Some medicines used to treat these conditions may interact with furosemide and the effects on your heart may be increased.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with furosemide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.