Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene for High Blood Pressure User Reviews

• duh...
• April 10, 2010

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I had tried numerous blood pressure medications. Almost all affected my sexual performance negatively, and I also experienced headaches in the morning. ALL EXCEPT THIS MEDICATION! This was without a doubt the best I had used to date. Please comment if you have tried. I would like to hear from others who have."

• How...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2013

"I've been on this medication for two weeks and my blood pressure has definitely dropped from 150-180/96 to 118/68. My main side effect is severe nausea right after taking it in the morning. I've tried to take it with food, milk, and lots of water, but my stomach will hurt for an hour or more no matter what. Unfortunately, I just have to stick it out since I'm only 24, 5'5 and 115 lbs, exercise regularly, and eat really healthy. Also, if you're taking this medication make sure your doctor is checking your potassium and electrolyte levels. Should be done within the first month of starting the medication."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2016

"On Day 15 of taking 1 tablet of Triamterene HCTZ 37.5-25 mg daily, here are my notes... Gradual reaction to Triamterene-HCTZ... Day 1: February 24 evening: Bad body cramps and aches that gradually started in the legs and then persisted through the entire body. I ended up lying down and staying in bed the rest of the evening; very bad headaches; no fever, temperature 99.0. Day 2: February 25 early evening: Felt better this day but was very sore from the night before. I took medication then noticed an hour after taking the medication that muscle aches came back. That night it was even worse, trembling with muscle aches most of the night, severe headache, and unable to pass bowels; cried in pain; very thirsty and dry mouth. Temperature 99.0. Day 3: February 26 did not take it; started feeling better after about 12 to 14 hours into the next day. Body seems very weak and very itchy. I called the doctor's office to find out if it was OK to stop taking this medication because of reactions; did not receive a phone call back. Day 4: February 27: called the after-hours number at the cardiologist's office around 7:30 pm. Dr. Park returned my call and told me that the medicine probably wasn't the issue and that it sounded like maybe I had some other issues going on, so I should see my primary care physician; did not appreciate his tone and lack of concern. Therefore, I took half of the medication and became ill very quickly this time. This time, it started with severe dizziness and lightheadedness, severe muscle cramps and aches, at times unable to walk or control my limbs; muscle cramps persisted, and my ability to control my arms and limbs came and went; new onset of stomach pain, then finally vomiting while on the toilet trying to pass bowels. I drank grapefruit juice thinking it would counteract the medication; muscle aches, cramps, headache, and stomach pain lasted through the night; pains lasted all night until I fell asleep; pains were subsiding. Day 5: February 28: no meds today, body feels extremely sore, yellowish skin and eyes, leg cramps come and go and are painful but not as bad as the night before; no appetite, ate very little. Day 6: February 29: no meds today, feel a lot better although still feel very weak, soreness in my right arm near the elbow, lightheadedness twice during the day within three hours of each onset, eating an apple seemed to help."

• fai...
• January 7, 2016

"Drink a lot of water. I've been on triamterene/HCTZ for ten plus years and wasn't really explained in detail how serious it would be if I didn't keep hydrated. At one point, they increased my milligrams and not my potassium amount, and now my kidneys are affected. I'm very dehydrated. I have leg cramps that are painful, and I feel like this is it for me."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2010

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I had a very bad reaction to Dyazide for high blood pressure. After 3 days, I was overwhelmed by disorientation, heart palpitations, muscle cramps in my feet and legs, dizziness, and nausea. Although I was drinking a great deal of water, I was found to be severely dehydrated with electrolyte imbalance."

• I...
• January 28, 2017

"This medicine nearly killed me, and I'm a healthy 33-year-old woman who was on it for 4 days. I was prescribed 50 mg of hydrochlorothiazide to take instead of 50 mg atenolol, which had been giving me side effects. By day 4, I was incredibly weak, mentally foggy/confused, and had severe body aches. I also started experiencing chest pains, so I went to the ER, and my EKG showed an abnormal arrhythmia. It turns out my potassium had dropped to below 2.5, which can be life-threatening. I was given 2 IV bags of potassium, 2 more bags of fluids, and kept overnight. I was fine in the morning (normal EKG and electrolytes), but I was told one more day on that med could have been fatal. Be careful on this drug."

• gsf...
• March 27, 2011

"I have been using this medication successfully for several years. It lowered my blood pressure and had no side effects. This last month, my prescription company switched manufacturers, and I had a severe reaction to the drug. Please be careful if the pharmacy switches brands. The manufacturers are not all the same."

• 4Pe...
• August 24, 2008

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I've been on and off Maxzide. When I moved to Texas, they took me off it for four years. My blood pressure has been out of control until finally one doctor listened to me when I told them Maxzide was the only thing that would work - blood pressure is now under control."

• Anonymous
• September 12, 2009

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I am a 52-year-old female and have been on Dyazide for 10 days. I have had no side effects from the medication, and edema in my leg has cleared up completely. I have also lost 12 pounds of water weight. Blood pressure has improved, but still higher than it should be."

• Ken...
• July 12, 2013

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I started using Maxzide 15 years ago, and it reduced my blood pressure, which was between 135 and 160, to less than 130. I am now 71, and another medicine has been added. But 15 years on, side effects and all was well."

• max...
• May 26, 2016

"I was put on Triamterene HTCZ 37.5-25 mg as a replacement for Lisinopril (coughing and throat closing up after 2 yrs on med). I was put on Triamterene in January, blood pressure was good, but felt nervous at times, mood swings, constipated. In March, had blood work, my uric acid level was 10.1, high, my BUN was 10.1, high, had blood in my urine and foul-smelling urine. Was not feeling well. My blood work also stated 'Moderately Reduced Kidney Function.' This med is poison to the kidneys! In March, stopped Triamterene, was put on Verapamil ER 120 mg. Seems to be working okay. I am very relaxed on this med, which helps my BP as I am a nervous, anxious person which brings up my BP. New lab reports are now good."

• Sou...
• June 15, 2013

"It works, but I am constantly urinating and constipated. I lost five lbs within two days after starting this medication, but I feel that I am losing too much water. I am thirsty, but I avoid drinking water because of the constant urination. My mother has been on it for decades and was diagnosed with gout last year. Her specialist told her the hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene caused the gout. She is no longer on the medication, but is still having gout flare-ups. I haven't taken it for about a week, and I decided to reduce my salt and reduce the amount of food I am eating since I am overweight. It has been working, but I am monitoring my blood pressure by taking readings every morning and evening. I'll see what the doctor says."

• Eme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 29, 2020

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I am a 47-year-old female who was recently diagnosed with high BP. My NP started me out on Losartan, and I experienced terrible side effects. My mom suggested I take what she's taken for 23 years-Dyazide. I got that from Dr. and have been taking Dyazide for 3 weeks, and it is great! It has lowered my BP from around 140/90 to 115/65. Also, NO side effects. It is a small, light green, oblong pill."

• Lor...
• September 16, 2009

"My doctor prescribed Triamterene/HCTZ 37.5 once a day about 6 months ago. In the meantime, I experienced severe silent migraine-type symptoms (light sensitivity, motion sensitivity, brain fog, irritability, not able to read or think clearly), which I have never had before. My doctor even did a brain MRI to try to find the cause but never thought of my medicine's side effects. I quit this medicine on my own and immediately noticed no more headache symptoms! Have been off for 2 months now and no silent migraine instances have occurred."

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2009

Hydrochlorothiazide / triamterene "I am 39 years old, my doctor prescribed this medicine to help lower my blood pressure. From the first day, it made me very nauseous to the point of vomiting. It also made me feel dizzy, lightheaded, and short of breath. I stopped taking it after 4 days and felt better. My doctor is switching me to an ACE inhibitor instead... hoping it will be better than this one."

• Anonymous
• December 16, 2008

"Have been taking this for about 2 months now. The first few weeks, I was tired and kept getting back and leg cramps at night. My feet are cold a lot now, but my blood pressure is great, I'm no longer tired, and I haven't had any cramps. It definitely took a few weeks to get used to, but it's worth it now."

• Dar...
• December 14, 2015

"So far, so good, been taking it three days now. Been thirstier than usual, drinking lots of water. I've started exercising regularly daily. Some slight headaches, stomach cramps my second day on it. Some effect on sex moods, but not that bad. More energy for me, no drowsiness, some dizziness, but not so much where it's noticed. B/P good, feel laid back and calm."

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2011

"This medicine was added because atenolol alone was not controlling the borderline high blood pressure. I didn't have much side effects at first, but now I can't walk a block without getting very painful leg cramps. My doctor told me to quit taking it until he can run blood tests. I have been drinking lots of water, which was supposed to help with the cramping, but has not relieved it."

• Wor...
• December 11, 2015

"I was prescribed this back in March of this year for high BP. My doc told me to take 1/2 of the pill. I kept taking myself on and off it until finally my BP started doing waves from 107/86-135/96, making me sick. So then my doc said to start taking the full pill. I guess it works ok keeping my BP at a reasonable level. I just haven't really given it a chance because I'm afraid it will raise my blood sugar. I'm not a diabetic, but my mom and sister have it. I just don't want this drug triggering that in me if I have the diabetic gene. Has anyone here had that side effect? It raising your blood sugar levels?"

• Bas...
• September 1, 2009

"I am in my early 40s and pretty healthy. I was about 40 lbs overweight, and before beginning medication, I lost 20 lbs. My blood pressure didn't go down, averaging around 139/88. I never had high blood pressure until the past 6 months. When I went to the doctor, he put me on Triamterene-Hydrochlorothiazide, and within 24 hours, I got the worst nausea/dizziness. I gave it a few more days to see if it would subside, and when it didn't after 5 days, I had to call the doctor. Although the side effects were unbearable, I did notice an instant drop in my blood pressure to an average of 117/75. I also noticed another few lbs. drop off, most likely due to the release of the water in my system. I ranked a 3 due to the severe side effects."

• Ms ...
• December 25, 2008

"I have been taking this medication for about 10 years. It keeps my blood pressure under control and the fluid off. I don't mind the extra trips to the bathroom because I know it is working; taking fluid off my swollen legs and feet."

• kne...
• October 3, 2013

"Been taking hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene for 10 days. My blood pressure is 106/66 now. I take my BP twice a day. It sometimes runs as high as 160/90. I only take BP med Benicar when BP is high. Also take atenolol 25 mg - 1/2 tablet twice a day for fast heartbeat. I feel good but am wondering if the low BP is okay. Female, 71 years old, 140 pounds, 5'3."

• Sap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2017

"I have been on it for 3 days, and I am noticing the bloating that some have mentioned. However, since my BP was 200/154 when I was taken to the hospital, and it's now 143/112, I'll take the bloating if I must to still be here with my kids. (I'm only 35 years old, but under major stress, which is what my doctor believes caused such dangerous BP levels.)"

• You...
• November 30, 2017

"I've been taking hydrochlorothiazide along with another blood pressure medication. I just recently started the hydrochlorothiazide about 2 months ago. This medication makes me gasp for air at night and also causes my neck near my jaw to hurt, along with palpitations in my heart. Don't know what to do anymore."

• JCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2019

"Been on this for about 2 weeks, and it's done a good job of lowering my BP by about 10 points, which I'm very happy with. I have noticed a little bit of cramping, and after reading the rest of the reviews, I'm off to buy some Gatorade right now. Will update if things go south for me. Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experiences!"