Diuretics, Thiazide (Systemic)

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 be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do 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. Do not double doses.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• 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.