AMILORIDE & HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

Brand & Generic Names

Moduret

Moduretic

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Diuretic (thiazide), antihypertensive

Uses

• Controls, but doesn't cure, high blood pressure.
• Reduces fluid retention (edema), decreasing likelihood of congestive heart failure.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same time each day, no later than 6 p.m.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Forces sodium and water excretion, conserves potassium, reducing body fluid.
Relaxes muscle cells of small arteries.
Reduced body fluid and relaxed arteries lower blood pressure.

Time lapse before drug works:
2-6 hours. May require several weeks to lower blood pressure.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Non-prescription drugs without consulting doctor.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Cramps, weakness, drowsiness, weak pulse, coma, rapid, irregular heartbeat.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

• Increased thirst, irregular heartbeat, cramps in muscles, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, thready pulse, shortness of breath.
• Tiredness, weakness, diarrhea, headache, appetite loss, nausea, constipation, decreased interest in sex.

Infrequent:

• Mood changes, dizziness, lightheadedness.
• Fever and chills, red tongue, cracked mouth corners, black stools, dry mouth.

Rare:

Jaundice; unusual bleeding or bruising; abdominal pain with vomiting; sore throat, sores in mouth; hives, skin rash; joint pain.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to amiloride or any thiazide diuretic drug.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you are allergic to any sulfa drug.
• If you have gout, diabetes, heart disease.
• If you have liver, pancreas or kidney disorder.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons, especially dizziness and excessive potassium loss.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine.

Infants & children:
Not recommended unless closely supervised.

Prolonged use:

• You may need medicine to treat high blood pressure for the rest of your life.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check blood pressure, kidney function, electrocardiogram and serum electrolytes.

Skin & sunlight:
May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp. Avoid overexposure.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without medical advice.

Others:

• Hot weather and fever may cause dehydration and drop in blood pressure. Dose may require temporary adjustment. Weigh daily and report any unexpected weight decreases to your doctor.
• May cause rise in uric acid, leading to gout.
• May cause blood-sugar rise in diabetics.
• Get periodic check-ups and potassium-level laboratory tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Allopurinol	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Antidepressants,	Dangerous drop in
tricyclic (TCA)*	blood pressure. Avoid combination
	unless under medical supervision.
Antihypertensives,	Increased effect of
other*	both drugs.
Barbiturates*	Increased hydrochlorothiazide
	effect.
Beta-adrenergic	Increased antihypertensive
blockers*	effect. Dosages of both drugs may
	require adjustments.
Blood-bank blood	Increased potassium levels.
Carteolol	Increased antihypertensive effect.
Cortisone drugs*	Excessive potassium loss that
	causes dangerous heart rhythms.
Cyclosporine	Increased potassium levels.
Digitalis	Excessive potassium
preparations*	loss that causes dangerous heart
	rhythms.
Diuretics,	Increased diuretic
thiazide*	effect.
Diuretics, other*	Increased effect of both drugs.
Indapamide	Increased diuretic effect.
Lisinopril	Increased antihypertensive effect.
	Dosage of each may require
	adjustment.
Lithium	Possible lithium toxicity.
MAO inhibitors*	Increased hydrochlorothiazide
	effect.
Nicardipine	Dangerous blood pressure drop.
	Dosages may require adjustment.
Nimodipine	Dangerous blood pressure drop.
Nitrates*	Excessive blood pressure drop.
Oxprenolol	Increased antihypertensive effect.
	Dosages may require adjustment.
Probenecid	Decreased probenecid effect.
Potassium supplements*	Increased potassium levels.
Sodium bicarbonate	Decreased potassium levels.
Sotalol	Increased antihypertensive effect.
Terazosin	Decreases effectiveness of
	terazosin.
Zinc supplements	Increased need for zinc.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Dangerous blood pressure drop.
Low-salt milk.	Possible excess potassium levels.
	Low-salt milk has extra potassium.
Cocaine:	Increased risk of heart block and
	high blood pressure.
Salt substitutes.	Possible excess potassium levels.
Marijuana:	May increase blood pressure.
Tobacco:	None expected.