Hydrochlorothiazide and Tiredness: 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."

• Eri...
• October 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was only on HCTZ 12.5mg, along with Losartan 50mg, for five dosages, and it caused some bad physical and mental side effects. They included panic attacks, headaches, pressure behind the eyes, lightheadedness, confusion, foggy feelings, being tired, and also unable to sleep, lack of appetite, and probably more that I am forgetting. I also fainted twice within 15 minutes of each other on the evening of my third dose, which included spending three hours in the ER to recover from massive dehydration. I had a follow-up appointment with my PCP earlier today, prior to my sixth dosage, and he told me to stop taking it. I have been off it for only 28 hours, and the side effects are gone! I still have a mild headache, but it is considerably better than the past couple of days. I know medication reacts differently for every person, but for me, it was not worth taking this medication/dosage, which did lower my blood pressure a small amount, compared to all of the side effects I experienced."

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I tried for 2 months to adjust to hydrochlorothiazide. Immediately my legs hurt and felt like jelly, also my energy levels were so low I hardly felt like getting out of bed. I also noticed a lot of hair loss in my brush. My blood pressure went from 210/120 down to 140/78, and my edema was entirely eliminated. Hydrochlorothiazide definitely did its job, but I was in constant pain and so tired I couldn't function normally. I thought something was really wrong with me until I decided I'd had enough and intentionally skipped a dose and couldn't believe how much better I felt the next day. I'm going back to my doctor to change to something else!"

• Mgr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have genetic high blood pressure and had been on lisinopril for many years. It started not working well, so hydrochlorothiazide was added. The first few months seemed to go well aside from fatigue. The last few months, I have had a resting pulse rate of 115 and palpitations. I sweat tremendously and feel exhausted. I went to the doctor yesterday who took me off it. Beta-blockers cause me depression, I can’t do channel blockers. I am on irbesartan and hope it will hold. Different drugs affect people differently, but to think it is a magic pill with no side effects is a mistake."

• mag...
• August 30, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I started at 12.5 and got moved up to 25's. To me, my weight loss is crazy. I've lost 20 lbs in about 2 months. Hair loss is horrible. It's lowered my BP a bit. I feel tired, achy, and have no energy. Also, my joints get stiff."

• mag...
• August 30, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I started at 12.5 and got moved up to 25's. To me, my weight loss is crazy. I've lost 20 lbs in about 2 months. Hair loss is horrible. It's lowered my BP a bit. I feel tired, achy, and have no energy. Also, my joints get stiff."

• Sta...
• February 18, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on this medication for about 6 months for edema and high blood pressure. It helps with both issues, but I have horrible side effects: blurred vision, tiredness, sadness (never had this before), weight gain (even with exercise, I'm up almost 30 lbs in 6 months), back pain that feels like kidney pains, random headaches, hot flashes, increased sweating. I was on lisinopril prior to this, but that made my heart race. The only way to resolve is by healthy eating, exercise, and not taking this pill. I have an appointment next week with my doctor to take me off."

• Gor...
• July 4, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have HBP as a side effect of cyclosporine and Myfortic used as anti-rejection meds for a liver transplant. I was first on amlodipine, and after two years of numbness/severe chills/exhaustion/extreme susceptibility to cold (I am Canadian) and stage 2 kidney failure, I suspected it and discontinued it on my own. The named side effects cleared within six months, but the HBP also reappeared. Enter hydrochlorothiazide --- after two years my kidney function is normal - BP fully controlled @115/75 and absolutely no downside effects other than peeing a lot = No Big Deal! Great med for me."

• 33...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I am currently nursing and have been dealing with high blood pressure since I gave birth. I was started on labetalol, but my PCP wanted to try out HCTZ instead because he said beta blockers are not a first-line drug for high BP. From day one of taking it, I had a terrible headache that never went away after three weeks of taking it daily. My blood pressure (which was 160/98 prior to any medication) shot up to 172/118 at my last doctor visit. In addition to the headaches, I also experienced some brain fog, tiredness, and weakness. I think I may have been severely dehydrated from HCTZ combined with breastfeeding (which also uses a lot of the water in your body), despite drinking water all day long... So this was not a good fit for me at all. I stopped taking it today and started back on the labetalol, and my BP is now 142/86. I’ll be asking the doctor to increase my labetalol dose or add on something else because I didn’t have a good experience with it."

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "My first week using this medicine, and I've lost 5 pounds without exercise. I'm on day three, and my stomach is going down. I don't have any side effects yet because I drink two cups with a pill, then eat something and drink another cup. It's lowering my blood pressure really well, but if I lay down, I get a little tired. That's it."

• 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."

• 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."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I take Lisinopril for high blood pressure. I had a situation where I had to go to the ER because my blood pressure went up. I was prescribed the HTZ to bring it down. I took it for 30 days along with my Lisinopril and my new BP, amlodipine. Recently went to the doctor, and all of my vitals were excellent, except for one, A1C! I am convinced that this water pill caused my new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes! I was very angry, and I told the doctor that I am not going to take this anymore, regardless of whether he sends it to the pharmacist. I came off the med, and for three straight days, I have not felt any tiredness or any of the side effects once I dropped this water pill. Warning: stay away from water pills! Just do the exercise and take one, if not an additional BP med. I am going to kick this diabetes diagnosis. I have never had diabetes in my entire life, just high blood pressure. And they shot my blood sugar up higher than it has ever been in my entire life."

• Nep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2015

For Nephrocalcinosis "I was put on thiazide 25 mg for severe lifelong nephrocalcinosis (kidney stone disease). I have been on it for 6 weeks. Yes, it cut my urine calcium in half, which is great and what we wanted, but I have had some terrible side effects: daily migraines and new acne daily on my jawline (never had acne until I started this medication). It lowered my potassium levels, causing lethargy and muscle weakness. I took a 2-day break and there was an instant stop of headaches and no new pimples for 2 days. I have gone back on it today, but I only took 12.5 mg to see if it makes a difference, only time will tell if I get a headache soon and then I will know for sure it is the tablet causing it."

• Lha...
• August 7, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "This medication was used with Pimobendan (a 'miracle drug' hypertension medicine for my dog Cody's heart disease). Made him urinate constantly and made him tired. Went back to the Lasix. This hydrochlorothiazide is easier on his kidneys, but he was feeling bad. Put him back on the Lasix and he's back to himself."

• Ile...
• December 31, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Experienced hair loss, tiredness, constipation."