Chlorthalidone

Generic name: Chlorthalidone
Dosage form: oral tablet (25 mg; 50 mg)
Drug class: Thiazide diuretics

Usage of Chlorthalidone

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

Chlorthalidone 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.

Chlorthalidone is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Chlorthalidone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Chlorthalidone side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Chlorthalidone may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

low sodium--headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;

low potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling;

low magnesium--dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling; or

kidney problems--little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.

Common side effects of chlorthalidone may include:

low blood pressure (feeling light-headed);

kidney problems;

dizziness; or

an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium, sodium, or magnesium in your blood).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Chlorthalidone

You should not use chlorthalidone if you are allergic to it, or if:

you are unable to urinate; or

you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

kidney disease;

heart failure;

gout;

high cholesterol or triglycerides;

diabetes; or

if you are on a low-salt diet.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking chlorthalidone during pregnancy may cause side effects in the newborn baby, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), bruising or bleeding, low blood sugar, or an electrolyte imbalance.

Do not start or stop taking chlorthalidone during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Although chlorthalidone may cause side effects in a newborn, having high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause complications such as diabetes or eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.

You should not breastfeed while using chlorthalidone.

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How to use Chlorthalidone

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

-Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day-Titration: Increase to 50 mg orally once a day if response is inadequate; if response is still inadequate, increase to 100 mg orally once a day, or a second antihypertensive drug (step 2 therapy) may be added-Maintenance dose: 25 to 100 mg orally once a day-Maximum dose: 100 mg orally once a dayComments:-Doses should be taken in the morning with food.-Maintenance doses may be lower than initial doses and should be adjusted according to individual patient response. -Effectiveness is well sustained during continued use.Use: Hypertension (alone or with another antihypertensive drug)

Usual Adult Dose for Edema:

-Initial dose: 50 to 100 mg orally once a day, or 100 mg orally every other day; some patients may require 150 to 200 mg orally at these intervals-Maximum dose: 200 mg orally once a dayComments:-Doses should be taken in the morning with food.-Maintenance doses may be lower than initial doses and should be adjusted according to individual patient response. -Effectiveness is well sustained during continued use.Use: For edema due to various forms of renal dysfunction, such as nephrotic syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis, and chronic renal failure

Warnings

You should not use chlorthalidone if you are unable to urinate, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

What other drugs will affect Chlorthalidone

Using chlorthalidone with other drugs that make you light-headed can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

other blood pressure medications;

lithium;

digoxin, digitalis;

insulin or oral diabetes medicine; or

steroid medicine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect chlorthalidone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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