Hyzaar Side Effects
Generic name: hydrochlorothiazide / losartan
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 12, 2024.
Note: This document provides detailed information about Hyzaar Side Effects associated with hydrochlorothiazide / losartan. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Hyzaar.
Applies to hydrochlorothiazide / losartan: oral tablet.
Important warnings
This medicine can cause some serious health issues
Oral route (tablet)
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury or death to the developing fetus.
Stop therapy as soon as possible when pregnancy is detected.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby, especially in your second or third trimester. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. You may need to stop using this medicine.
This medicine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy. If you feel dizzy, lie down so you do not faint. Then sit for a few moments before standing to prevent the dizziness from returning.
Check with your doctor right away if you become sick while taking this medicine, especially if you have severe or continuing nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea that does not stop. These conditions may cause you to lose too much water and may lead to low blood pressure. You can also lose water by sweating, so drink plenty of water during exercise or in hot weather.
Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.
Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. This could be a sign of a serious eye problem. Your doctor may want an eye doctor to check your eyes.
This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. Diabetic patients may notice a change in the results of blood or urine glucose tests. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
Ask your doctor before you use medicines, supplements, or salt substitutes that contain potassium.
Drinking alcohol or taking narcotic pain relievers or sleeping pills with this medicine may intensify feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or faint. Tell your doctor if you are drinking alcohol or using pain relievers or sleeping pills.
This medicine may increase your risk of getting skin cancer (eg, non-melanoma skin cancer). Avoid sun exposure. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This especially includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems, and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Common side effects of Hyzaar
Some side effects of hydrochlorothiazide / losartan may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common side effects
- body aches or pain
- headache
- loss of voice
- sneezing
- sore throat
- stuffy or runny nose
Rare side effects
- dry cough
Incidence not known
- acid or sour stomach
- belching
- change or loss of taste
- difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- heartburn
- inability to have or keep an erection
- indigestion
- loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
- trouble sleeping
- weight loss
Serious side effects of Hyzaar
Along with its needed effects, hydrochlorothiazide/losartan may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking hydrochlorothiazide / losartan:
Rare side effects
- black, tarry stools
- blood in the urine or stools
- cough or hoarseness accompanied by chills or fever, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination
- fainting
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- pounding heartbeat
- severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting
- skin rash
- swelling of the feet or lower legs
- unusual bleeding or bruising
Incidence not known
- bleeding gums
- blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
- blurred vision
- chest pain or tightness
- chills
- coma
- confusion
- cough
- dark-colored urine
- decreased frequency of urine
- decreased urine output
- diarrhea
- difficulty swallowing
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- fever
- hives, itching skin, rash
- increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- increased thirst
- irritability
- joint or muscle pain
- large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- light-colored stools
- loss of appetite
- lower back or side pain
- muscle cramps, pain, spasms, stiffness, or twitching
- nausea or vomiting
- numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
- painful knees and ankles
- persistent non-healing sore
- pink growth
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- raised red swellings on the skin, the buttocks, legs, or ankles
- red, irritated eyes
- red skin lesions, often with a purple center
- reddish patch or irritated area
- redness or other discoloration of the skin
- restlessness
- seizures
- severe sunburn
- shiny bump
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
- swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
- trouble breathing
- upper right abdominal or stomach pain
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- weak or irregular heartbeat
- weight gain
- white, yellow or waxy scar-like area
- yellow eyes and skin
For healthcare professionals
Applies to hydrochlorothiazide / losartan: oral tablet.
General adverse events
The most common adverse reaction was dizziness.[Ref]
Nervous system
- Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Syncope, cerebrovascular accident, ataxia, hypesthesia, memory impairment, migraine, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, somnolence, vertigo, tremor, taste perversion, tinnitus[Ref]
Respiratory
- Common (1% to 10%): Cough, sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, pharyngitis
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Respiratory distress, pneumonitis, pulmonary edema
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Dyspnea, epistaxis, nasal congestion, pharyngeal discomfort, respiratory congestion, rhinitis, sinus disorder
- Postmarketing reports: Dry cough[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
- Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Pancreatitis, sialadenitis, cramping, gastric irritation
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Constipation, dental pain, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastritis, vomiting[Ref]
Cardiovascular
- Common (1% to 10%): Palpitation, essential hypertension
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypotension
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Vasculitis
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Angina pectoris, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, hypotension, myocardial infarction, second degree atrioventricular block, flushing
- Postmarketing reports: Vasculitis[Ref]
Other
- Common (1% to 10%): Edema/swelling, asthenia/fatigue
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Weakness, fever
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Chest pain, facial edema, fever, orthostatic effects, malaise[Ref]
Dermatologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Rash
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Purpura, photosensitivity, urticaria, cutaneous vasculitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis
Losartan:
- Common (1% to 10%): Rash
- Frequency not reported: Angioedema, superficial peeling of palms, alopecia, dermatitis, dry skin, ecchymosis, erythema, photosensitivity, pruritus, sweating, urticaria
- Postmarketing reports: Erythroderma[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
- Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Muscle spasm
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Arm pain, arthralgia, arthritis, fibromyalgia, hip pain, joint swelling, knee pain, leg pain, muscle cramps, muscle weakness, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, shoulder pain, stiffness
- Postmarketing reports: Rhabdomyolysis[Ref]
Renal
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Serum creatinine increased greater than 5 mg/dL, BUN increased
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Renal failure, renal dysfunction, interstitial nephritis
Losartan:
- Common (1% to 10%): Serum creatinine increased greater than 5 mg/dL[Ref]
Hepatic
- Frequency not reported: Liver enzymes elevated, serum bilirubin elevated
- Postmarketing reports: Hepatitis
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice
Losartan:
- Postmarketing reports: Hepatitis[Ref]
Hematologic
- Frequency not reported: Hemoglobin decreased, hematocrit decreased
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Hemolysis, anemia[Ref]
Metabolic
- Postmarketing reports: Hyperkalemia
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Anorexia, gout
- Postmarketing reports: Hyperkalemia, hyponatremia[Ref]
Ocular
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Transient blurred vision, xanthopsia
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, burning/stinging in the eye, conjunctivitis, visual acuity decreased[Ref]
Psychiatric
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Restlessness
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Anxiety, anxiety disorder, confusion, dream abnormality, depression, insomnia, libido decreased, nervousness, panic disorder, sleep disorder[Ref]
Genitourinary
Hydrochlorothiazide:
- Frequency not reported: Glycosuria
Losartan:
- Frequency not reported: Impotence, nocturia, urinary frequency, urinary tract infection[Ref]
Immunologic
Losartan:
- Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic reactions[Ref]
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References
1. (2022) "Product Information. Hyzaar (hydrochlorothiazide-losartan)." Merck & Co., Inc
2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
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Further information
Hyzaar 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.
Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.