Avalide

Generic Name: hydrochlorothiazide and irbesartan (HYE droe KLOR oh THYE a zide and ir be SAR tan)
Brand Names: Avalide

What is Avalide?

Avalide tablets contain a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and irbesartan. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention. Irbesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Irbesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

Avalide is described as a combination angiotensin II receptor blocker and diuretic.

Avalide is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

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

Important information about Avalide

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use Avalide if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

See also: Avalide pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

You should not use Avalide if you are allergic to irbesartan or hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if you are unable to urinate.

Slideshow: Grapefruit and Medicines: A Possible Deadly Mix?

Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of Avalide.

In rare cases, Avalide can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, nausea or vomiting, and dark colored urine.

Before taking Avalide

You should not use Avalide if you are allergic to irbesartan or hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if you are unable to urinate.

To make sure you can safely take Avalide, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;

• congestive heart failure;

• glaucoma;

• low or high levels of potassium in your blood;

• asthma or allergies;

• high cholesterol or triglyceride levels;

• gout;

• lupus;

• diabetes; or

• an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use Avalide if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Irbesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking Avalide. It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and irbesartan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Avalide.

See also: Avalide pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Avalide?

Take Avalide exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose of Avalide to make sure you get the best results.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking Avalide, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are taking medication that contains hydrochlorothiazide. You may need to stop using Avalide for a short time.

It may take up to 4 weeks for Avalide to control your blood pressure. Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Avalide dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include fast or slow heartbeat, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Avalide?

Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of Avalide.

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.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking Avalide, unless your doctor has told you to.

Avalide side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Avalide: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. In rare cases, Avalide can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, nausea or vomiting, and dark colored urine. Call your doctor at once if you have any other serious side effects, such as:

• eye pain, vision problems;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• chest pain, feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

• fever;

• swelling, rapid weight gain;

• urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, restless feeling, confusion, increased urination, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

Less serious Avalide side effects may include:

• stomach pain, heartburn;

• muscle pain;

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• headache;

• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat; or

• dry cough.

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.

See also: Avalide side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Avalide?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• any other diuretics or blood pressure medications;

• steroids (prednisone and others);

• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

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

• insulin or oral diabetes medications;

• a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);

• aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others;

• a muscle relaxer such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), metaxalone (Skelaxin), or methocarbamol (Robaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), or tizanidine (Zanaflex); or

• a narcotic medication such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Methadose), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), and others.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Avalide. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Avalide.