Hydrochlorothiazide and Cramps: What Users Say

• Mad...
• June 11, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "When I first started taking this medication, my heart was racing. I started getting leg cramps, and I felt bone tired. I felt as if something was not right, so I called the doctor. Turns out he started me on 25 mg, and that dosage was too high for me, so we cut it to 12.5 mg. Seems to be working much better without all those side effects outright. My advice: Listen to your body, not all medications are one size fits all. You are your best advocate."

• Dav...
• April 7, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "I have been having erratic blood pressure, but it was starting to go over 140/90 regularly. My MD put me on hydrochlorothiazide 25mg. I have a family history of high blood pressure. I am very health conscious, and this is the first time I am taking a medicine. So I cut the pill in half (12.5mg), and it dropped my BP the first day to 120/78. I don't think I am urinating more, but I get leg cramps, so I started taking Chelated Potassium. I have been on this medicine for 3 weeks, and today is the first day I did not take it because my blood pressure was 114/66. I have to be diligent with this medicine, even though I am only taking half my prescribed dose. I don't like to depend on medicines, I use herbal supplements and exercise. I recommend diligent monitoring of your BP whenever you are prescribed medicines."

• Mom...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 14, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on HCTZ for over a decade and haven't really had any problems until the past year or so. I was taken off of it because of failing kidney function and was surprised to see the change. I had developed horrific leg cramps and foot numbness a couple years ago that I blamed on my back issues. I'm now off this med and realizing that these were side effects of this med. Today I can feel my feet today and I haven't had a leg spasm in days. These spasms were constant and severe enough that they used to make me have to jump out of bed at night... many times a night! Cramps were in my hands, my back, upper and lower legs, and hips. I've been off of this med for 5 days only and wonder what other symptoms might also go away that I didn't pay attention to. Feeling more alert today too!"

• Ros...
• April 2, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have taken it for about 4 or 5 years on and off. I had stopped for a while because my BP was fine, but started this last year because I suddenly have elevated BP again and some swelling. It works fine for me at 12.5. I had a doctor prescribe 25mg and I had the leg cramps, some dizziness, dry eyes. I realized that is because I am dehydrated. If the medication is dehydrating you, I would say you are prescribed too high of a dose. Once it was decreased, all those side effects went away and I do not swell, and my BP is better. If you ever complain to a doctor and they tell you to just keep taking it and you don't feel good about it, follow your gut feeling."

• LIS...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 30, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was on this for a year. I am a healthy 50-year-old man that travels the world. The side effects started out slow (the pain did and other things). I was hospitalized, I had MRIs, my left hand went numb, and the pain was insane. On a scale of 1 through 10, it was like a 40. I could not even tie my shoes. The pain was behind my shoulder blades, then it would travel down under my feet and feel like I was walking on needles. My body was cramping. This drug should be banned. What they don't tell you is that every pill, even though it may say the same thing, is not the same. They use different base formulas in each state. The doctors were just about to schedule me for surgeries. I have had 3 MRIs, 2 CT scans, 4 hospital visits, all out of pocket, totaling around $100,000. No pill, all better."

• Eli...
• February 10, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I am hypertensive and have been on hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg for 2 years, and at 12.5 mg for 1 year before that. For the last year, I have had severe leg cramps, urinating every half hour with extreme pressure, my hair is thinning, and a rash developed along my hairline above my forehead. My body temperature would drop significantly to 95, so my husband would make hot drinks and wrap me in a blanket. On top of that, my blood pressure went up. A doctor where I'm vacationing cut the medication back to 12.5 mg and from the first day, my pressure is normal, my body temperature has stabilized with no drops. The doctor here said too much of this medication wipes out potassium, and since reducing to 12.5 mg, in 4 days I feel much better."

• Lac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking this medicine 4 days ago. On day 3, the cramps started so badly that I couldn't do anything without my hands involuntarily becoming fists, sometimes both of them, to the point of my husband having to help me pry them apart. I also had dizziness, nausea, muscle pain, among others. None of which I had on the Benazapril. I talked to my doctor yesterday, and he switched me to something different. I'm hoping it helps!"

• gor...
• April 11, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I hate this drug. My Dr. put me on 25 mg per day. It makes me lightheaded, run to the toilet every hour, constipated, and causes leg cramps. I don't know why he added a new drug instead of just upping the dose of Losartan."

• SBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor first prescribed amlodipine, which caused swelling in my ankles and feet, then prescribed hydrochlorothiazide. I peed a lot, but swelling noticeably went down by the next day. I had some leg cramps, not sure if it’s related to the meds. Overall, I think it’s helped a great deal!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor had me on 1 pill of hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, and after initial cramping, my body was okay after adding more electrolytes. Eventually, I agreed with him to try 2 pills of 25 mg a day, and it went fine for a month or two. Then I had dizziness bouts for a whole day, and I kept taking naps (which I read were signs of dehydration), and my skin and mouth were drier. My vision doubled in blurriness (some from the first pill too), and I got pink eye from the dryness and irritation. I just felt very 'off,' so today I went back to one pill. It does help, but stay on track with your electrolytes, especially if you're doing a low-carb diet AND taking these! On a side note, companies DO put in different ingredients, so if you have a bad reaction, try another company and see if it works better."