Aldactazide

This page contains drug information on Aldactazide.
The information provided includes the following:
what is Aldactazide
the possible side effects of Aldactazide
what happens if you miss a dose of Aldactazide
what happens if you overdose with Aldactazide
the most important information about Aldactazide
how to use Aldactazide
other drugs that may affect Aldactazide
what to avoid while using Aldactazide
 
Generic Name: aldactazide (hye dro klor oh THYE a zide/ speer on oh LAK tone)
Brand Names: Aldactazide, Spironolactone Plus
 
What is the most important information I should know about aldactazide?
 •  To reduce nighttime urination, take aldactazide before 6 p.m. and preferably in the morning.
 •  Take aldactazide with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.
 •  Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium while taking aldactazide. These products could cause very high levels of potassium in your blood. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any salt substitutes you are taking.
 •  Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. aldactazide may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.

What is aldactazide?
 •  Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill). It decreases the amount of fluid in your body by increasing the amount of salt and water you lose in your urine.
 •  Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill). It is used to reduce the amount of fluid in the body without causing the loss of potassium.
 •  aldactazide is used to treat edema (swelling) and hypertension (high blood pressure).
 •  aldactazide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take aldactazide?
 •  Do not take aldactazide if you
      · have an allergy to sulfa-based drugs such as sulfa antibiotics,
      · have severe kidney disease,
      · have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia) or
      · are taking another diuretic that helps you retain potassium such as triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide) or spironolactone (Midamor).
 •  Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
      · liver disease,
      · high levels of triglycerides or cholesterol (types of fat) in your blood,
      · kidney stones,
      · gout, or
      · diabetes.
 •  You may not be able to take aldactazide, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
 •  aldactazide can harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
 •  aldactazide passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take aldactazide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
 •  If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from aldactazide. You may require a lower dose of this medication.

How should I take aldactazide?
 •  Take aldactazide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
 •  Take each dose with a full glass of water.
 •  Take aldactazide with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.
 •  To reduce nighttime urination, take hydrochlorothiazide-spironolactone before 6 p.m. and preferably in the morning.
 •  aldactazide should begin working about 4 to 6 hours after you take it, but it may be a few weeks before you see an improvement in your condition.
 •  Do not stop taking aldactazide suddenly even if you feel better. Stopping suddenly could make your condition much worse.
 •  Store aldactazide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?
 •  Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?
 •  Seek emergency medical attention.
 •  Symptoms of a aldactazide overdose include dizziness, fainting, nausea, and vomiting.

What should I avoid while taking aldactazide?
 •  Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain potassium while taking aldactazide. These products could cause very high levels of potassium in your blood. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any salt substitutes you are taking.
 •  Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and will decrease the effects of aldactazide.
 •  Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Hydrochlorothiazide may increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.
 •  Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. aldactazide may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.
 •  Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking aldactazide.
 •  Avoid becoming overheated during exercise and in hot weather. Overheating can lead to dehydration while taking aldactazide.
 •  Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before having surgery.

What are the possible side effects of aldactazide?
 •  If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking aldactazide and seek emergency medical treatment:
      · an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing closing of your throat swelling of your lips, tongue, or face or hives)
      · an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, confusion, weakness, numbness, or tingling (caused by high levels of potassium in your blood)
      · severe mood changes
      · muscle cramping
      · black, bloody, or tarry stools
      · easy bruising or bleeding
      · blood in your urine
      · little or no urine
      · yellowing of your skin or eyes or
      · confusion.
 •  Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take aldactazide and talk to your doctor if you experience
      · dizziness
      · tingling or numbness in your hands or feet
      · headache or tiredness
      · excessive urination
      · muscle weakness or cramps
      · increased hunger or thirst
      · a dry mouth
      · nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation
      · changes in weight
      · increased swelling
      · sensitivity of the skin to sunlight or
      · decreased sex drive.
 •  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 aldactazide?
 •  Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
      · Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) such as benazepril (Lotensin) or captopril (Capoten) may increase potassium in your blood, which could be dangerous when you are taking aldactazide.
      · Other commonly used ACE inhibitors include enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace).
      · Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Rufen, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox) may decrease the effects of aldactazide and may increase the risk of damage to your kidneys.
      · Other commonly used NSAIDs include diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), and tolmetin (Tolectin).
      · Diabetes medications such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), glipizide (Glucotrol), and glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase, Micronase) may not be as effective in lowering your blood sugar levels when you are taking aldactazide. Your diabetes therapy may have to be adjusted.
      · Lithium (Lithobid, Lithane, Eskalith, others) may have increased effects when taken with aldactazide and may cause side effects.
      · Steroid medications such as hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, Solu-Cortef), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, Meticorten), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Depo-Medrol, A-MetaPred, Solu-Medrol, others), prednisolone (Prelone, Delta Cortef, Pediapred, others), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), betamethasone (Celestone), corticotropin (Acthar, ACTH), and others may affect potassium levels in your blood.
      · Warfarin (Coumadin) may have decreased effects when it is taken with aldactazide.
      · Allopurinol (Zyloprim), probenecid (Benemid), and sulfinpyrazone (Anturane) may have reduced effects because hydrochlorothiazide and spiranolactone increases levels of uric acid in your body.
      · Cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid) may decrease the effects of aldactazide. aldactazide should be taken at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after any dose of cholestyramine or colestipol.
      · Laxatives may affect potassium levels in your body. This could interfere with aldactazide therapy.
 •  Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with aldactazide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.