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Bendroflumethiazide Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 25, 2024.

Applies to bendroflumethiazide: compounding powder, oral tablet.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular complications of diuretic therapy include orthostatic hypotension secondary to intravascular volume depletion. This has resulted in syncope and, in some patients with glaucoma, temporary loss of vision. Rare cases of cerebrovascular accident associated with thiazide-induced diuresis have been reported.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic reactions may indicate hypersensitivity to the drug. Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis (including toxic epidermal necrolysis), and alopecia have been reported in rare cases.[Ref]

Endocrine

Endocrinologic changes associated with bendroflumethiazide, as with other thiazide diuretic agents, include decreased glucose tolerance and a potentially deleterious effect on the lipid profile. This may be important in some patients with or who are at risk for diabetes or coronary artery disease.[Ref]

A prospective study of 34 patients who received oral thiazide diuretics for 14 years without interruption revealed an increased mean fasting blood glucose level after treatment. Withdrawal of thiazide therapy for 7 months in 10 of the patients resulted in mean reductions of 10% in fasting blood glucose and 25% in the 2-hour glucose tolerance test values. A control group was not reported.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal problems include anorexia, gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain in approximately 5% of patients. Thiazide diuretics have been associated with acute cholecystitis, intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice and rare cases of pancreatitis.[Ref]

A retrospective case-controlled drug surveillance study has revealed the relative risk of acute cholecystitis associated with the use of a thiazide diuretic is 2.0. The suspected explanation for this association is the potentially deleterious effect thiazides have on the serum lipid profile. Bendroflumethiazide-induced hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia may enhance the formation of some types of gallstones.[Ref]

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects are rare. Rare cases of immune-complex hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, and thrombocytopenia have been associated with thiazide diuretics.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions usually involve the skin (cutaneous vasculitis, urticaria, rash, purpura), but may involve the gastrointestinal system (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea), the genitourinary system (interstitial nephritis), and the respiratory system (acute noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonitis). Thiazide diuretics may induce phototoxic dermatitis.[Ref]

Thiazides may induce allergic reactions in patients who are allergic to sulfonamides.[Ref]

Metabolic

Metabolic changes associated with bendroflumethiazide, as with other thiazide diuretics, are relatively common, especially when daily doses greater than 100 mg are used. Mild hypokalemia (decrease of 0.5 mEq/L) occurs in up to 50%, and may predispose patients to cardiac arrhythmias. Metabolic alkalosis, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperuricemia are also relatively common.

The electrolyte and intravascular fluid shifts that may occur during bendroflumethiazide diuresis can provoke hepatic encephalopathy in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. This may be pertinent due to this patient's liver disease.[Ref]

Hyperuricemia may be an important consideration in patients with a history of gout. Hypophosphatemia and low serum magnesium concentrations may occur, but are usually clinically insignificant except in malnourished patients.

Rare cases of hypercalcemia and milk-alkali syndrome (hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal insufficiency) have been associated with thiazide diuretics.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal cramping or spasm are occasionally reported during bendroflumethiazide diuresis.[Ref]

Nervous system

Side effects related to the nervous system include mild, transient dizziness, fatigue, or headache.[Ref]

Renal

New or worsened renal insufficiency associated with bendroflumethiazide therapy is a probable sign of intravascular volume depletion, and serves as a signal to reduce or withhold therapy. Rare cases of allergic interstitial nephritis have been associated with some thiazide diuretics.[Ref]

References

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2. O'Keefe JC, Butrous GS, Dymond DS, Littlejohns P, Peters N, Banim SO (1985) "Ventricular arrhythmias complicating weight reduction therapy in a patient with a prolonged QT interval." Postgrad Med J, 61, p. 419-21

3. Starr JM, Whalley LJ (1993) "Hypertensive Old People in Edinburgh (HOPE) Study: electrocardiographic changes after captopril or bendrofluazide treatment." Age Ageing, 22, p. 343-8

4. Nielsen EG, Nielsen JL (1968) "Biochemical and electrocardiographic changes following the intake of bendroflumethiazide with potassium chloride (Centyl with potassium chloride) in a 16 month old child." Dan Med Bull, 15, p. 143-6

5. Medical Research Council Working Party on Mild to Moderate Hypertension. (1983) "Ventricular extrasystoles during thiazide treatment: substudy of MRC mild hypertension trial." Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 287, p. 1249-53

6. "Product Information. Naturetin-5 (bendroflumethiazide)." Apothecon Inc

7. Diffey BL, Langtry J (1989) "Phototoxic potential of thiazide diuretics in normal subjects." Arch Dermatol, 125, p. 1355-8

8. Bech K, Skovsted L, Siersbaek-Nielsen K, Hansen JM (1978) "Influence of thiazides on thyroid parameters in man." Acta Endocrinol (Copenh), 89, p. 673-8

9. Klimiuk PS, Davies M, Adams PH (1981) "Primary hyperparathyroidism and thiazide diuretics." Postgrad Med J, 57, p. 80-3

10. Riis B, Christiansen C (1985) "Actions of thiazide on vitamin D metabolism: a controlled therapeutic trial in normal women early in the postmenopause." Metabolism, 34, p. 421-4

11. Berglund G, Andersson O, Larsson O, Wilhelmsen L (1976) "Antihypertensive effect and side-effects of bendroflumethiazide and propranolol." Acta Med Scand, 199, p. 499-506

12. Fichman MP, Vorherr H, Kleeman CR, Telfer N (1971) "Diuretic-induced hyponatremia." Ann Intern Med, 75, p. 853-63

13. Husby S, Marthedal NJ (1981) "Hyponatraemia due to a thiazide diuretic. A case report." Acta Med Scand, 210, p. 523-4

14. Berglund G, Andersson O, Widgren B (1986) "Low-dose antihypertensive treatment with a thiazide diuretic is not diabetogenic. A 10-year controlled trial with bendroflumethiazide." Acta Med Scand, 220, p. 419-24

15. Gudbrandsson T, Hansson L (1979) "Combination therapy with saluretics and atenolol in essential hypertension. Effects on blood pressure, electrolytes and uric acid." Acta Med Scand Suppl, 625, p. 86-91

16. Elmfeldt D, Berglund G, Wedel H, Wilhelmsen L (1983) "Incidence and importance of metabolic side-effects during antihypertensive therapy." Acta Med Scand Suppl, 672, p. 79-83

17. Condon JR, Nassim R (1970) "Hypophosphataemia and hypokalaemia." Br Med J, 1, p. 110

18. Winchester JF, Kellett RJ, Boddy K, Boyle P, Dargie HJ, Mahaffey ME, Ward DM, Kennedy AC (1980) "Metolazone and bendroflumethiazide in hypertension: physiologic and metabolic observations." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 28, p. 611-8

19. Lee MR, Morgan DB (1980) "Familial hyperkalaemia responsive to benzothiadiazine diuretic." Lancet, 1, p. 879

20. Hesp R, Wilkinson PR (1976) "Potassium supplementation of thiazide therapy." Lancet, 2, p. 1144

21. Struthers AD, Whitesmith R, Reid JL (1983) "Prior thiazide diuretic treatment increases adrenaline-induced hypokalaemia." Lancet, 1, p. 1358-61

22. Petri M, Cumber P, Grimes L, Treby D, Bryant R, Rawlins D, Ising H (1986) "The metabolic effects of thiazide therapy in the elderly: a population study." Age Ageing, 15, p. 151-5

23. Toner JM, Ramsay LE (1984) "Thiazide-induced hypokalaemia; prevalence higher in women." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 18, p. 449-52

24. Spitzer TQ, Harris BA (1975) "Controlled evaluation of bendroflumethiazide in the treatment of essential hypertension." Curr Ther Res Clin Exp, 17, p. 75-9

25. Hilker RR (1970) "Reversible hypercalcemia associated with prolonged thiazide administration to control hypertension." J Occup Med, 12, p. 444-5

26. Jorgensen FS, Brunner S (1974) "The long-term effect of bendroflumethiazide on renal calcium and magnesium excretion and stone formation in patients with recurring renal stones." Scand J Urol Nephrol, 8, p. 128-31

27. Ljunghall S, Backman U, Danielson BG, Fellstrom B, Johansson G, Odlind B, Wikstrom B (1982) "Effects of bendroflumethiazide on urate metabolism during treatment of patients with renal stones." J Urol, 127, p. 1207-10

28. Ljunghall S, Backman U, Danielson BG, Fellstrom B, Johansson G, Wikstrom B (1981) "Calcium and magnesium metabolism during long-term treatment with thiazides." Scand J Urol Nephrol, 15, p. 257-62

29. Nielsen S, Schmitz A, Knudsen RE, Dollerup J, Mogensen CE (1994) "Enalapril versus bendroflumethiazide in type 2 diabetes complicated by hypertension." Q J Med, 87, p. 747-54

30. Pickkers P, Schachter M, Hughes AD, Feher MD, Sever PS (1996) "Thiazide-induced hyperglycaemia: a role for calcium-activated potassium channels?" Diabetologia, 39, p. 861-4

31. Mcdevitt DG, Currie D, Nicholson AN, Wright NA, Zetlein MB (1994) "Central effects of the diuretic, bendrofluazide." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 38, p. 249-56

32. Hine KR, Simmons JP, Baker SE, Man AM (1982) "Bendrofluazide convulsions." Lancet, 1, p. 564

33. Gerrard L, Wheeldon NM, McDevitt DG (1993) "Central effects of combined bendrofluazide and atenolol administration. A single dose study in normal subjects." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 45, p. 539-43

34. Petersen V, Hvidt S, Thomsen K, Schou M (1974) "Effect of prolonged thiazide treatment on renal lithium clearance." Br Med J, 3, p. 143-5

35. Larsson GB, Langer L, Nassberger L (1993) "Thiazide-induced kidney damage with circulating antibodies against myeloperoxidase and cardiolipin." J Intern Med, 233, p. 493-4

36. Pusey CD, Saltissi D, Bloodworth L, Rainford DJ, Christie JL (1983) "Drug associated acute interstitial nephritis: clinical and pathological features and the response to high dose steroid therapy." Q J Med, 52, p. 194-211

37. Boer WH, Koomans HA, Dorhout Mees EJ (1989) "Acute effects of thiazides, with and without carbonic anhydrase inhibiting activity, on lithium and free water clearance in man." Clin Sci, 76, p. 539-45

Further information

Bendroflumethiazide side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.