Microzide Drug Information

DIURETICS, THIAZIDE (Systemic)

Some frequently used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Aquatensen ⁶
• Diucardin ⁵
• Diulo ⁷
• Diuril ²
• Enduron ⁶
• Esidrix ⁴
• Hydro-chlor ⁴
• Hydro-D ⁴
• HydroDIURIL ⁴
• Hydromox ⁹
• Hygroton ³
• Metahydrin ¹⁰
• Microzide ⁴
• Mykrox ⁷
• Naqua ¹⁰
• Naturetin ¹
• Oretic ⁴
• Renese ⁸
• Saluron ⁵
• Thalitone ³
• Trichlorex ¹⁰
• Zaroxolyn ⁷

In Canada—

• Apo-Chlorthalidone ³
• Apo-Hydro ⁴
• Diuchlor H ⁴
• Duretic ⁶
• HydroDIURIL ⁴
• Hygroton ³
• Naturetin ¹
• Neo-Codema ⁴
• Novo-Hydrazide ⁴
• Novo-Thalidone ³
• Uridon ³
• Urozide ⁴
• Zaroxolyn ⁷

Category

• Antidiuretic, central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus—Bendroflumethiazide; Chlorothiazide; Chlorthalidone; Hydrochlorothiazide; Hydroflumethiazide; Methyclothiazide; Metolazone; Polythiazide; Quinethazone; Trichlormethiazide
• Antihypertensive—Bendroflumethiazide; Chlorothiazide; Chlorthalidone; Hydrochlorothiazide; Hydroflumethiazide; Methyclothiazide; Metolazone; Polythiazide; Quinethazone; Trichlormethiazide
• Antiurolithic, calcium calculi—Bendroflumethiazide; Chlorothiazide; Chlorthalidone; Hydrochlorothiazide; Hydroflumethiazide; Methyclothiazide; Metolazone; Polythiazide; Quinethazone; Trichlormethiazide
• Diuretic—Bendroflumethiazide; Chlorothiazide; Chlorthalidone; Hydrochlorothiazide; Hydroflumethiazide; Methyclothiazide; Metolazone; Polythiazide; Quinethazone; Trichlormethiazide

Description

Thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics are commonly used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled.

Thiazide diuretics are also used to help reduce the amount of water in the body by increasing the flow of urine. They may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Thiazide diuretics are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

• Oral
• Bendroflumethiazide
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Chlorothiazide
  • Oral suspension (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Chlorthalidone
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Oral solution (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Hydroflumethiazide
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Methyclothiazide
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Metolazone
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Polythiazide
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Quinethazone
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Trichlormethiazide
  • Tablets (U.S.)

• Parenteral
• Chlorothiazide
  • Injection (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

When deciding if it's worth using a medicine, the risk of taking it must be carefully weighed against the benifit it can do. This is the decision you and your doctor are to make together. Concerning thiazide diuretics, the following aspects should be taken into account:

Allergies—Inform your doctor if you have ever experienced any unusual or allergic reaction to sulfonamides (sulfa drugs), bumetanide, furosemide, acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, methazolamide, or to any of the thiazide diuretics. Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other substances, like foods, preservatives, dyes.

Pregnancy—When this medicine is used during pregnancy, it may cause side effects including jaundice, blood problems, and low potassium in the newborn infant. In addition, although this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animals, studies have not been done in humans.

In general, diuretics are not useful for normal swelling of feet and hands that occurs during pregnancy. They should not be taken during pregnancy unless recommended by your doctor.

Breast-feeding—Thiazide diuretics pass into breast milk. These medicines also may decrease the flow of breast milk. Therefore, you should avoid use of thiazide diuretics during the first month of breast-feeding.

Children—Although there is no specific information comparing the use of thiazide diuretics in children with use in other age groups, these medicines are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults. However, extra caution may be necessary in infants with jaundice, because these medicines can make the condition worse.

Older adults—Dizziness or lightheadedness and signs of too much potassium loss may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of thiazide diuretics.

Other medicines—Although some medicines should not be used together at all, there are cases when 2 different medicines maybe used together even if an interaction might occur. In such cases, your doctor may advise you to change the dose, or other precautions may be required. When you are taking thiazide diuretics, it is essential to tell your health care professional if you are taking any of the following:

• Cholestyramine or
• Colestipol—Use with thiazide diuretics may prevent the diuretic from working properly; take the diuretic at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after cholestyramine or colestipol

• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine)—Use with thiazide diuretics may cause high blood levels of digoxin, which may increase the chance of side effects

• Lithium (e.g., Lithane)—Use with thiazide diuretics may cause high blood levels of lithium, which may increase the chance of side effects

Other medical problems—The existence of other medical problems may influence the use of /thiazide diuretics. You should tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, in particular::

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)—Thiazide diuretics may increase the amount of sugar in the blood

• Gout (history of) or
• Lupus erythematosus (history of) or
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)—Thiazide diuretics may make these conditions worse

• Heart or blood vessel disease—Thiazide diuretics may cause high cholesterol levels or high triglyceride levels

• Liver disease or
• Kidney disease (severe)—Higher blood levels of the thiazide diuretic may occur, which may prevent the thiazide diuretic from working properly

Proper Use of This Medicine

This medicine may cause you to have an unusual feeling of tiredness when you begin to take it. You may also notice an increase in the amount of urine or in your frequency of urination. After you have taken the medicine for a while, these effects should lessen. In general, to keep the increase in urine from affecting your sleep:

• If you are to take a single dose a day, take it in the morning after breakfast.
• If you are to take more than one dose a day, take the last dose no later than 6 p.m., unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

However, it is best to plan your dose or doses according to a schedule that will least affect your personal activities and sleep. Ask your health care professional to help you plan the best time to take this medicine.

Take each dose at the same time each day. This medicine works best if there is a constant amount in the blood.

For patients taking this medicine for high blood pressure :

• In addition to the use of the medicine your doctor has prescribed, appropriate treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and care in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your doctor will tell you which factors are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet.
• Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well.
• Remember that this medicine will not cure your high blood pressure but it does help control it. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life . If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

For patients taking the oral liquid form of hydrochlorothiazide , which comes in a dropper bottle:

• This medicine is to be taken by mouth. The amount you should take is to be measured only with the specially marked dropper.

Dosing—The dose of these medicines will vary for different patients. Adhere to the orders of your doctor or the instructions on the label . The information below includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose differs, you should not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets or teaspoonfuls of solution or suspension that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking thiazide diuretics .

• For bendroflumethiazide
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—At first, 2.5 to 10 milligrams (mg) one or two times a day. Then, your doctor may lower your dose to 2.5 to 5 mg once a day. Or your doctor may want you to take this dose once every other day or once a day for only three to five days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 50 to 100 micrograms (mcg) per kilogram (kg) (22.7 to 45.4 mcg per pound) of body weight once a day.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2.5 to 20 mg a day. This may be taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 50 to 400 mcg per kg (22.7 to 181.8 mcg per pound) of body weight a day. This may be taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.

• For chlorothiazide
• For oral dosage forms (oral suspension or tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—250 milligrams (mg) every six to twelve hours.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—250 to 1000 mg a day. This may be taken as a single dose or divided into smaller doses.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—250 mg injected into a vein every six to twelve hours.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—500 to 1000 mg a day, injected into a vein. This dose may be given as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

• For chlorthalidone
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—25 to 100 milligrams (mg) once a day. Or 100 to 200 mg taken once every other day or once a day for three days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—25 to 100 mg once a day.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

• For hydrochlorothiazide
• For oral dosage forms (oral solution or tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—25 to 100 milligrams (mg) one or two times a day. Or your doctor may want you to take this dose once every other day or once a day for three to five days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—25 to 100 mg a day. This may be taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

• For hydroflumethiazide
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—25 to 100 milligrams (mg) one or two times a day. Or your doctor may want you to take this dose once every other day or once a day for three to five days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—50 to 100 mg a day. This may be taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

• For methyclothiazide
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—2.5 to 10 milligrams (mg) once a day. Or your doctor may want you to take this dose once every other day or once a day for three to five days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2.5 to 5 mg once a day.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

• For metolazone
• For oral dosage form ( extended metolazone tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—5 to 20 milligrams (mg) once a day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2.5 to 5 mg once a day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For oral dosage form ( prompt metolazone tablets):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—At first, 500 micrograms (mcg) once a day. Then, 500 to 1000 mcg once a day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

• For polythiazide
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—1 to 4 milligrams (mg) once a day. Or your doctor may want you to take this dose once every other day or once a day for three to five days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2 to 4 mg once a day.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

• For quinethazone
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body or for high blood pressure:
    • Adults—50 to 200 milligrams (mg) a day. This may be taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

• For trichlormethiazide
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • To lower the amount of water in the body:
    • Adults—1 to 4 milligrams (mg) once a day. Or your doctor may want you to take this dose once every other day or once a day for three to five days out of the week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2 to 4 mg once a day.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. You should not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine properly, follow the instructions below:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the oral liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is especially important that your doctor check your progress on regular basis to be sure that this drug is working properly.

This medicine may cause a loss of potassium from your body :

• To help prevent this, your doctor may want you to:
  • eat or drink foods that have a high potassium content (for example, orange or other citrus fruit juices), or
  • take a potassium supplement, or
  • take another medicine to help prevent the loss of the potassium in the first place.
• It is very important to follow these directions. Also, it is important not to change your diet on your own. This is more important if you are already on a special diet (as for diabetes), or if you are taking a potassium supplement or a medicine to reduce potassium loss. Extra potassium may not be necessary and, in some cases, too much potassium could be harmful.

Check with your doctor if you become sick and have severe or continuing vomiting or diarrhea. These problems may cause you to lose additional water and potassium.

For diabetic patients :

• Thiazide diuretics may raise blood sugar levels. While you are using this medicine, be especially careful in testing for sugar in your blood or urine.

Thiazide diuretics may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses.
• Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

For patients taking this medicine for high blood pressure :

• Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor . This especially includes over-the-counter (nonprescription) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems, since they may tend to increase your blood pressure.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Alongside with its expected effects, any medicine may be the cause of some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may happen, if they do happen they may require medical attention.

Consult your doctor immediately if any of the side effects from the list below occur:

Other side effects that may occur generally do not require any medical attention. These side effects may disappear in the course of treatment as your body gets used to the medicine. Nevertheless, inform your doctor if any of the side effects below persist or became annoying:

Other side effects not mentioned above may also happen in some patients. If you notice any other effects, tell your doctor about it.

Additional Information

Once a drug has been approved for marketing for certain cases, experience may show that it can also be applied to treatment of some other medical problems. Although these uses are not specifically included in product labeling, thiazide diuretics are used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

• Diabetes insipidus (water diabetes)
• Kidney stones (calcium-containing)

For patients taking this medicine for diabetes insipidus (water diabetes) :

• Some thiazide diuretics are used in the treatment of diabetes insipidus (water diabetes). In patients with water diabetes, this medicine causes a decrease in the flow of urine and helps the body hold water. Thus, the information given above about increased urine flow will not apply to you.

There is no additional information concerning proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses other than the above.