Metoprolol-HydrochlorothiazideOral - Drug Information and Side Effects on Drug3k.com


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Metoprolol-Hydrochlorothiazide images:

Overview

Photos

How To Use

Side Effects

Precautions

Missed Dose

Drug Interactions

Metoprolol-Hydrochlorothiazide

Uses
This product is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.This product contains two medications. Metoprolol is a beta blocker that works by blocking the effect of certain natural chemicals such as adrenaline (epinephrine) on the heart and blood vessels. This slows your heartbeat, lowers blood pressure, and reduces strain on the heart. Hydrochlorothiazide is a "water pill" (diuretic) that works by increasing the amount of urine that you make. This causes your body to get rid of extra salt and water, which probably helps to relax the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily. These two drugs are used together when one medication is not controlling your blood pressure.
Notes

Do not share this medication with others.Talk with your doctor about making changes to your lifestyle that may increase the effectiveness of this medication (e.g., stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes).Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver function tests, blood salt levels, complete blood counts) should be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Consult your doctor for more details.Have your blood pressure and heart rate checked regularly while taking this medication.
Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure and heart rate at home, and share the readings with your doctor.

Storage

Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted.
Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness/fainting, severe weakness, very slow heartbeat, slow/shallow breathing, fainting.

How To Use

See also the Warning and Drug Interactions sections.Take this medication by mouth, usually 1-2 times daily or as directed by your doctor.
You may take this medication with or without food, but it is important to choose one way and then take it consistently either with or without food.It is best to take the last dose of this medication early in the day (before 4-6 PM) to avoid having to get up during the night to urinate.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dosing schedule.The dosage is based on your age, medical condition and response to therapy.
If you have severe liver or kidney problems, your dosage may need to be adjusted.Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it.
To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.
It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well.
Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.
It may take up to several weeks before the full benefit of this drug takes effect.Do not stop taking this medication without first consulting your doctor.
Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped.
Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.Inform your doctor if your condition worsens (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase).

Side Effects

Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, headache, trouble sleeping, slow heartbeat, tiredness, stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, or temporary blurred vision may occur as your body adjusts to the medication.
You may also be more sensitive to sunburn (see Precautions section).
If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Other less common side effects may include nightmares, muscle ache/cramp, decreased ability to exercise, nausea, vomiting, gas.This product may reduce blood flow to your hands and feet, causing them to feel cold.
Smoking may worsen this effect.
Dress warmly and avoid tobacco use.Medications similar to the metoprolol in this product may rarely cause or worsen heart failure.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following unlikely but serious side effects: swelling of the ankles/feet, shortness of breath, severe tiredness, unexplained or sudden weight gain.At higher doses, metoprolol may also make it easier to have symptoms of asthma (e.g., feeling of tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, wheezing, cough).
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur.The hydrochlorothiazide in this product may cause too much body water and salts to be lost (dehydration).
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these unlikely but serious symptoms of dehydration: very dry mouth, thirst, muscle cramps, weakness, fast heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, severe dizziness, confusion, unusual decrease in the amount of urine, fainting, seizures.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: slow/irregular heartbeat, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, decreased sexual interest/ability, mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, mood swings), confusion, memory loss, vision changes (e.g., yellow vision), increased urination, nervousness, unusual shakiness, unusual sweating, unusual hunger, painful/swollen/red joints.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, bluish discoloration of the fingers and toes, fever, persistent sore throat, yellowing of the eyes/skin, persistent nausea/vomiting, severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, slurred speech, black stools, persistent rectal bleeding, painful erections.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other beta blockers (e.g., propranolol, atenolol); or to other thiazide diuretics (e.g., polythiazide); or to sulfa drugs; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain types of heart rhythm problems (e.g., sinus bradycardia, second- or third-degree atrioventricular block, sick-sinus syndrome), certain serious heart conditions (cardiogenic shock, severe heart failure), or inability to urinate (anuria), a certain type of tumor (untreated pheochromocytoma).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart failure (treated, stable type), breathing problems (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), other heart rhythm problems (e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome), diabetes, overactive thyroid (e.g., hyperthyroidism), gout, blood circulation problems (e.g., Raynaud's disease, peripheral vascular disease), low blood flow to the brain (cerebral insufficiency), high levels of fats in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides), low salts in the blood (e.g., low potassium/magnesium), loss of too much body water (dehydration), certain nerve/muscle problems (e.g., myasthenia gravis), liver problems, kidney problems, lupus, psoriasis, recent nerve surgery (e.g., sympathectomy), history of severe allergic reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis), Down syndrome.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy.
Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness.
Limit alcoholic beverages.To reduce dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication to help prevent dizziness.
Too much sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause you to lose large amounts of water and salts, causing lightheadedness.
Avoid heavy exercise.
Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor.This medication may reduce the potassium levels in your blood.
Ask your doctor about adding potassium to your diet.
A potassium supplement may be prescribed by your doctor.If you have diabetes, this product may mask the fast/pounding heartbeat you would usually feel when your blood sugar level falls too low (hypoglycemia).
Other symptoms of a low blood sugar level, such as dizziness/sweating, are unaffected by this drug.
This product also may make it harder to control your blood sugar levels.
Check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed by your doctor.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst and urination.
Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness and lightheadedness.This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun.
Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps.
Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed.
Infants born to mothers who took the medications in this product during pregnancy may have low birth weight, a sudden drop in blood sugar, liver problems, or bleeding problems.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.The medications in this product pass into breast milk.
Breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to catch up.

Drug Interactions

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: arbutamine, cisapride, disopyramide, dofetilide, thioridazine.If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: alcohol, alpha blockers (e.g., prazosin), aluminum hydroxide, drugs with anticholinergic side effects (e.g., atropine, scopolamine, tricyclic antidepressants including amitriptyline), antipyrine, blood thinners (e.g., warfarin), calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil), clonidine, drugs for diabetes (e.g., glyburide, insulin), diazoxide, digoxin, epinephrine, ergotamine, fenoldopam, fluoxetine, paroxetine, guanethidine, levodopa, lithium, methyldopa, norepinephrine, probenecid, rizatriptan, theophylline, drugs for thyroid disease (e.g., methimazole, propylthiouracil, thyroid supplements including thyroxine), tubocurarine, drugs that affect heart rhythm (e.g., digoxin, lidocaine, procainamide), drugs that lower potassium levels (e.g., ACTH, corticosteroids including prednisone), drugs affecting the levels of catecholamines (e.g., reserpine), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove metoprolol from your body (e.g., amiodarone, barbiturates including phenobarbital, ritonavir, bupropion, diphenhydramine, cimetidine, hydralazine, mefloquine, propafenone, quinidine, rifamycins including rifampin, certain anti-seizure medications including phenytoin, St.
John's wort), certain psychiatric drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol), drugs whose removal from the body is affected by the acid level in urine (e.g., amphetamine, methenamine).Cholestyramine and colestipol may decrease the absorption of this medication.
If you are taking either of these drugs, separate them from this medication by at least 4 hours.Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs such as ibuprofen for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or heart rate.
Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.Low-dose aspirin should be continued if it has been prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day).
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.This product can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., parathyroid, protein-bound iodide), possibly causing false test results.
Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.