Generic Avalide and its Uses
Avalide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from
absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Avalide is in a group of drugs called angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
Avalide keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and
improves blood flow.
The combination of Avalide is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Avalide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
Important Information about Generic Avalide
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Avalide or Avalide
(Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if you
are unable to urinate. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor
if you are pregnant. Avalide may cause injury and even death to the unborn baby
if you take it during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Use an effective
form of birth control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right
away if you become pregnant during treatment. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can
lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of Avalide
.
Dosage and Administration of Generic Avalide
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the
medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your
doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best
results from this medication.
Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure
will need to be checked on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits
to your doctor.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating
more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication,
which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.
Avalide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who
treats you that you are using this medication.
It may take up to 4 weeks for this medication to control your blood pressure.
Keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often
has no symptoms.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that
you are using Avalide . You may need to stop using the medicine for a short
time.
Store Avalide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Missed Dose of Generic Avalide
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your
next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly
scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Overdose or Excess Dose of Generic Avalide
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include fast or slow heartbeat, feeling light-headed,
or fainting.
Food and Drug Interactions with Avalide
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood pressure and may increase
some of the side effects of Avalide .
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.
Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should
drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking
enough.
Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking Avalide
, unless your doctor has told you to.
Before taking Avalide , tell your doctor if you are using any of the following
drugs:
- any other blood pressure medications;
- steroids (prednisone and others);
- lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
- cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
- insulin or diabetes medicine you take by mouth;
- a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital
(Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
- any other diuretics, such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone
(Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), Avalide
(HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), spironolactone
(Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex),
and others;
- aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen
(Motrin, Advil), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis),
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others;
- a muscle relaxer such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine
(Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), metaxalone (Skelaxin), or methocarbamol (Robaxin),
orphenadrine (Norflex), or tizanidine (Zanaflex); or
- a narcotic medication such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), meperidine (Demerol),
methadone (Methadose), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet),
and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
Avalide . Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed
by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Precautions with Generic Avalide
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Avalide or Avalide
(Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if you
are unable to urinate.
Before using Avalide , tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs,
or if you have:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- congestive heart failure;
- low or high levels of potassium in your blood;
- asthma or allergies;
- high cholesterol or triglyceride levels;
- gout;
- lupus;
- diabetes; or
- an allergy to sulfa drugs.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special
tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby.
Avalide may cause injury and even death to the unborn baby if you take it during
the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Do not use Avalide without your
doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control.
Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant
during treatment. It is not known whether Avalide passes into breast milk. Do
not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding
a baby.
Possible Side Effects of Generic Avalide
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- feeling like you might pass out;
- chest pain, feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
- fever;
- swelling, rapid weight gain;
- urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
- dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, restless feeling, confusion, nausea, vomiting, increased urination, muscle pain or weakness, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, heartburn;
- joint or muscle pain;
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- headache;
- runny or stuffy nose, sore throat; or
- dry cough.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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