Diuretics, Thiazide (Systemic)
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For thiazide diuretics,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to sulfonamides (sulfa drugs), bumetanide, furosemide, acetazolamide,
dichlorphenamide, methazolamide, or to any of the thiazide diuretics. Also
tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances,
such as foods, preservatives, or 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 certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
thiazide diuretics, it is especially important that your health care professional
know 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 presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of thiazide diuretics. Make sure you tell your
doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
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
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