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Generic Name: chlorothiazide (klor o THY a zide)
Brand Names: Diuril

What is chlorothiazide?

Chlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Chlorothiazide treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Chlorothiazide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, asthma, allergies, gout, lupus, or diabetes.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking chlorothiazide?

• are unable to urinate; or

• if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Before using chlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;

• asthma or allergies;

• gout;

• lupus; or

• diabetes.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use chlorothiazide, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

How should I take chlorothiazide?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Chlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using a thiazide diuretic.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking chlorothiazide?

Avoid using other medicines that make you light-headed (narcotic pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures). They can add to the side effects of chlorothiazide.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

Chlorothiazide side effects

• dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting;

• feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;

• fast or uneven heartbeat;

• muscle pain or weakness;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• red or purple spots on your skin;

• numbness or tingly feeling;

• a red, blistering, peeling skin rash; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Continue using chlorothiazide and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• dizziness;

• headache;

• muscle spasm; or

• blurred vision.

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 chlorothiazide?

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

• lithium;

• digoxin (Lanoxin);

• cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

• steroids (prednisone and others);

• other blood pressure medications;

• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others; or

• insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use chlorothiazide, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect chlorothiazide. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about chlorothiazide written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Chlorothiazide is available with a prescription under the brand name Diuril. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Diuril 250 mg--round, white, scored, compressed tablets

• Diuril 500 mg--round, white, scored, compressed tablets

• Diuril suspension 250 mg per 5 mL (1 tsp)--yellow, creamy suspension

• 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.