Hydrochlorothiazide User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Dee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was in the hospital in June or July of last year, and my blood pressure was elevated, and this doctor prescribed me this hydrochlorothiazide medication through my IV, and my heart rate was completely out of control. It was so bad when they gave me that hydrochlorothiazide that the nurse had to put a defibrillator on me in case I had a heart attack. My blood pressure was 235/300+, and my heart rate was 175 beats per minute."

• Mat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 7, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on this medication since my mid-twenties. After I had a hernia operation and started a new job, my primary care doctor noticed my blood pressure was getting high, so she put me on this medication. I've tolerated it fairly well, but used to get dizzy upon standing when I first started taking it. I called her, and she told me to just eat bananas since this medication can drain your electrolyte balance. Other than that and noticing that I sunburn a little easier at the beach, I just have to be careful to reapply sunblock and stay in the shade a little more, and I need to drink beverages with electrolytes when it's hot out. Also, this medication will make you have to urinate an hour or so after taking it. Other than those minor inconveniences, it has not caused any major problems. I am now 32, going on 33, and have been on it for years."

• CCB...
• October 28, 2008

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking this medication in combination with Quinapril, which apparently is common (they also make a single pill containing both medicines). My blood pressure was reduced, though it is hard to say if one medicine was more effective than the other. However, after taking this, I began having attacks of gout, which I've never had in my life. This diuretic increases uric acid levels in the bloodstream, which is the cause of gout. If you are prone to gout or develop it, let your doctor know."

• Dar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 17, 2025

For Edema "I was on hydrochlorothiazide/hctz for about 15 years. Taking this drug has caused hypoparathyroidism - hypercalcemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, kidney disease, glomeruli imbalance, alkalosis, thrombocytopenia. I definitely wouldn’t recommend anyone take this for extended periods of time."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking HCTZ in combination with blood pressure medication. So far, it has worked well for water and salt retention. My blood pressure has come down from its highest point of 220/120, which is insanely high, it's now at 140/80. Only complaint, like the other users, is constant urination at night. During the day, it's not noticeable, but right before sleep, I'll go about 2 to 3 times."

• Dha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I am sure this hydrochlorothiazide works great for some people, but definitely not me. I was only on it for 5 days, and I almost had every side effect listed. Just recovering now. I could not eat a thing (for all 5 days), and then my blood pressure plummeted, and then I fainted in my kitchen. Now I have the dreaded cough. Am hoping that a little increase in sodium will help. Any ideas how long the cough lasts? I have been off of it for 2 days, so I am hoping this clears up soon. Yeah, you do lose weight, but I thought it was going to be the end of me."

• Don...
• July 2, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I had a severe allergic reaction to this medication. I broke out in a high fever, blood pressure spike, and broke out in hives all over my body. The hives were so serious I was being dosed with Liquid Benadryl (IV given)."

• Emp...
• August 22, 2020

For Edema "Started taking 25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide a couple of days ago, and I'm not sure if I should be on it or not. My heart was damaged about 7 years ago, and I'm taking Metoprolol Succinate 100 mg for that, but I've had some serious water retention. I've been on the water pill for about 3 days now, and for the last 2, I've had heart palpitations. Bad ones too, like a beat skipped every 5-25 beats, and it's lasted for over 2 hours. The thing is, I took the water pill at around 6 am, and I didn't have any issues all day. It wasn't until around 11 pm that the palpitations started. Since the water pill has a half-life of 6-15 hours, I shouldn't be having any effects that I didn't have earlier when it was at full strength, right? Not sure what to do, but it's been great at reducing the water retention, so I'm at a loss here."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I’m 45, female. I have hypertension around 145. Went to the ER twice because it went up over 165. My doctor prescribed me thiazide 26 mg because I have side effects with Lisinopril 5 mg. I got low potassium 2.9 after I was taking thiazide for two weeks. My potassium was normal before I started taking thiazide. My heart rate increased, I lost 5 lb. in two days, and my blood pressure was up sometimes. I got a bladder infection. Now I stopped the medicine. Taking potassium to reboot the potassium in my body. Still feeling weak if I'm walking too much."

• Anonymous
• May 30, 2011

For Nephrocalcinosis "I was put on hydrochlorothiazide by my urologist for the prevention of kidney stones. I was a regular producer of a stone every 12-18 months prior to starting hydrochlorothiazide. It has been 5 years and counting without a kidney stone. That's the upside. The downside is after about 6 months on this medication, I had my first bout with gout. Ever since then, I regularly have to deal with gout about every other month. I feel like I traded one type of severe, less often pain for a lower, more recurring pain."

• Fra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "This was one of four drugs that was prescribed to me for extremely high blood pressure. The combination appeared to be working for quite some time. About two years into my treatment, my doctor discovered that my blood sugar was running high. I did the work to cut out carbs and sugar to the point of 'going keto.' That was very successful in controlling blood sugar, and my numbers even improved. However, once I started adding the slightest amount of carbs, my blood sugar would rise. I just thought it was odd that these blood sugar issues seemed to appear out of nowhere. I suspected one of my drugs was the cause. It took me another year to figure out that HCTZ was the culprit. Through that year, I figured out that low potassium was causing issues and started supplementing with that, and then I think I found an article that mentioned associations with blood sugar and HCTZ. As an experiment, I removed HCTZ from the equation, and in less than a week, I was having normal blood sugar readings."

• Luc...
• August 12, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on 25 mg once daily of this medication for over 20 years now. I take it with Losartan (beta blocker). I have never experienced any of the side effects (e.g., dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, etc.) that others have reported here. Of course, it's a diuretic, so frequent urination (another side effect others report) is going to occur. But for myself, I've not noticed it, as the only time I experienced frequent urination was due to either a UTI or the massive fibroids that formerly pressed on my bladder; the HZT never contributed to this. So really, I've never had one side effect that I could attribute to this drug at all since I began taking it. In fact, the only warning from the pharmacy is to avoid sunlight or artificial sunlight."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on it for a week, and my BP has only gone down a little, but I feel terrible, mild headache and tired all the time. I will call Monday and get something different. I have been taking Atenolol for years, but my BP is too high now for that alone."

• LOI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed this several years ago with no problems, but I discontinued it because I was worried about it affecting my kidneys. Took it again a couple of months ago, and within 30 minutes, I had respiratory distress. Went to the hospital for several days on oxygen. Come to find out that I was one of the rare cases to have this reaction. I am now severely allergic to this medication."

• Dee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed 12.5 mg for hypertension. My BP was averaging 140/90, even though I am very active and vegetarian. It reduced my blood pressure, but about one month after I started taking it, I began to have frequent nosebleeds that lasted only about 15 seconds. My PA did not discuss side effects. She didn't even discuss lifestyle factors that contribute to high blood pressure. When I told her about the nosebleeds, she said they were probably caused by high blood pressure, so I started checking my BP whenever I had a nosebleed. Needless to say, my BP was under 120/80, so I just stopped taking the HCTZ. Now, my BP is normal. It was likely high as a result of working night shift and not getting much sleep for the past 5 years. I now have a day-shift job and feel much better. I also have a new doctor. If you take this med, pay attention to your body. Your body might be telling you to stop taking it."

• lid...
• July 28, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking hydrochlorothiazide for about ten years, and it has helped me with high blood pressure. The only bad thing about it is that I now have low potassium levels and have to take potassium pills, but overall it does help with the water retention on lowering high blood pressure."

• Sto...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2019

For Nephrocalcinosis "I have been taking 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide for kidney stones for 2 months, and so far I have experienced vision problems, extreme constipation (even with the 2 stool softeners a day my doctor prescribed), non-existent libido, headaches, and fatigue/weakness. Not sure if the fatigue is associated with the medication or the inability to have a regular BM. Awful medication. Will ask tomorrow for a 24-hour urine culture to see if my numbers have changed. Need to get off this medication sooner rather than later."

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Was on hydrochlorothiazide for 5 days. Constant and severe panic attacks. The water weight loss was nice. Ended up with violent shivers, went to the ER and had extremely low potassium, especially, but all my electrolytes across the board were very low. Had to have potassium given orally and by IV for hours just to get to a stable level, and that is very painful. Doctor took me off it immediately."

• Hls...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 10, 2025

For Edema "In addition to having high blood pressure, I would have extreme swelling in my feet. So, my doctor gave me hydrochlorothiazide, and I swear within 24 to 48 hours, the extreme swelling in my feet was gone. But it makes you pee so much. It will drive you crazy, so I only take it when I don’t have to work or run any errands."

• mbm...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 25, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "HCTZ worked fine for me for 30 years. It kept my peripheral edema under control and worked synergistically with Lisinopril to keep my blood pressure low. But in May, my yearly blood tests showed a sodium level of 126. A repeat a few weeks later showed 124. By that time, I was having my grandson care for me. The doctor then stopped the HCTZ. I've recovered from the cerebral edema caused by the hyponatremia, and my sodium was up to 130 at the last check, but now I have hypertension and peripheral edema. I'm now on a 40 mg dose of Lisinopril with no improvement after 4 days."

• Min...
• June 2, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "I originally gave this medicine a thumbs down, as the side effects, nausea and leg cramps, were too much. Decided to try it again at the prompting of my doctor, and after a few days, adjusted to it. 25 mg dosage, the edema is gone, and it seems to work with my beta blocker, with no issues."

• hat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "This medicine is okay, nothing to be scared of. I hate taking pills, and my blood pressure was extremely high, so I was prescribed this. I changed the way I ate. I'm 31 years old and healthy otherwise. Within a month (it took time), my blood pressure was at a high-risk level, which was lower than before. Probably because I still had a lot of weight to lose. I remember feeling tired at first. As I got used to the medicine, I was able to hit the gym again."

• doe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Well, I've been on this medication, 25 mg, for about a week... I started to have side effects about two days in, like extreme dry mouth, like I woke up in the Mojave Desert or something. And I still have the side effect, so I keep a bottle of water handy at night. 2-3 days in, I started to feel the mild cramps in my legs, but it's gone away, so it's temporary, I guess. As for urinating regularly, not sure if it's not high enough or what, because I have not noticed any loss of water, I have been retaining. Really disappointed, so I'll keep taking this med for another two weeks, if I don't notice anything, I'm off it, because it hadn't worked. Oh well, I guess let's see what happens."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "This medication was ineffective for me - years ago, I had a mini-stroke, also known as a TIA. At first, hydrochlorothiazide helped a little bit, but when you have 158/90 BP, you need more than a 5% reduction in it. This medication made me severely dehydrated and caused significant electrolyte loss. I quit it and tried chlorthalidone, but that again failed - if you only have mild elevated BP, this could be OK; if you have significant hypertension, though, you are much better suited to a real medication, such as a beta blocker."

• lol...
• September 13, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Diovan for years for my blood pressure. Recently, it stopped working to keep the numbers down. I was 180-190/85 and began to take EForge, which was a combination of Diovan and a beta blocker. I got sick, and my ankles swelled so badly they hung over my shoes. My doctor changed me to hydrochlorothiazide along with Diovan, and it has worked wonderfully. There is a combination pill, but I am afraid to take it because if I have a reaction, then I have to stop both medicines, as happened with EForge. No real problems with urination as I had expected."