enalapril-hydrochlorothiazide

This medication is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This product contains 2 medications, enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide. Enalapril belongs to a class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors. It works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow through the body more easily. Hydrochlorothiazide is a "water pill" (diuretic) and causes your body to get rid of extra salt and water. This effect may increase the amount of urine you make when you first start the medication. It also helps to relax the blood vessels so that blood can flow through the body more easily.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. If you take this product too close to bedtime, you may need to wake up to urinate. Therefore, it is best to take this medication at least 4 hours before your bedtime. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dosing schedule.

If you are also taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take enalapril/hydrochlorothiazide at least 4 hours before or at least 4 to 6 hours after either of those drugs.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.

It may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of this medication. Keep taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens (for example, your routine blood pressure readings remain high or increase).

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or tiredness may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. Dry cough may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

This product may cause a loss of too much body water (dehydration) and salt/minerals. Tell your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of dehydration or mineral loss, including: extreme thirst, very dry mouth, muscle cramps/weakness, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, confusion.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: toe/joint pain, irregular heartbeat, decrease in vision, eye pain, symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), easy bruising/bleeding, signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine).

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to either enalapril or hydrochlorothiazide; or to other ACE inhibitors (such as captopril, lisinopril); or to other thiazides (such as chlorothiazide); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: a history of an allergic reaction that included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), kidney disease (such as renal artery stenosis), liver disease, lupus, gout, untreated salt imbalance (such as high calcium, high or low potassium, low magnesium), loss of too much body water (dehydration), blood filtering procedures (such as LDL apheresis, dialysis), skin cancer.

This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

To help prevent dizziness, drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Too much sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause you to feel lightheaded. Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. It may also increase your risk for skin cancer, especially if you take it for a long time. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor right away if you get sunburned, have skin blisters/redness, or notice new or changed moles/skin lesions.

This product may affect your potassium levels. Before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have diabetes, this product may affect your blood sugar. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination, or signs of low blood sugar such as sudden sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands/feet. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially dizziness and change in the amount of urine (kidney problems).

This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. (See also Warning section.) The product passes into breast milk, but it is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details.

See also Precautions section.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug are: aliskiren, cisapride, dofetilide, certain drugs that weaken the immune system/increase the risk of infection (such as everolimus, sirolimus), gold injections, lithium, drugs that may increase the level of potassium in the blood (such as ARBs including losartan/valsartan, birth control pills containing drospirenone), sacubitril.

A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking enalapril/hydrochlorothiazide. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using.

Some products have ingredients that could raise your blood pressure or worsen your heart failure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen).

This medication may interfere with certain lab tests (including parathyroid, protein-bound iodide, tyramine, and phentolamine tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Do not share this medication with others.

Talk with your doctor about making changes to your lifestyle that may help this medication work better (such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes).

Lab and/or medical tests (such as kidney/liver function, blood mineral levels such as potassium) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly while taking this medication. Learn how to check your own blood pressure at home, and share the results with your doctor.