Hyzaar Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Hyzaar® is a combination of two drugs used to lower blood pressure. Losartan controls high blood pressure (hypertension) by relaxing blood vessels. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. By lowering blood pressure, losartan-hydrochlorothiazide can help reduce your risk of having damage to your kidneys, heart, or other organs. This medicine does not cure high blood pressure. Generic losartan-hydrochlorothiazide tablets are not yet available.

Hyzaar Dosage

• Hyzaar comes in two strengths, 50-12.5 (50 milligrams of losartan and 12.5 milligrams of hydrochlorothiazide) and 100-25 (a double dose of each component). The usual starting dose is one 50-12.5 tablet per day.

Uses of Hyzaar

• This drug is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
• This drug may also be used to treat congestive heart failure and to help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes.
• Losartan has been used to lower the risk of strokes in patients with high blood pressure and an enlarged heart.

Side Effects of Hyzaar

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Hyzaar. Side effects include:

• Dizziness, upper respiratory infection

Warnings and precautions before taking Hyzaar:

• If you are taking Hyzaar and have kidney disease, your doctor will watch your kidney function carefully.
• Hyzaar can cause low blood pressure, especially if you are also taking another diuretic. You may feel light-headed or faint, especially during the first few days of therapy. If these symptoms occur, contact your doctor. Your dosage may need to be adjusted or discontinued. If you actually faint, stop taking Hyzaar until you have talked to your doctor.
• This drug can cause serious harm to an unborn baby (possibly death) if used during the last six months of pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately.
• Excessive sweating, severe diarrhea or vomiting could deplete your body fluids and cause your blood pressure to drop too low. Be careful when exercising and in hot weather. Call your doctor if your mouth becomes dry, you feel weak or tired or sluggish, you are unusually thirsty, you feel restless or confused, you ache all over, your heart starts beating faster, or you are nauseated. Rare but serious allergic reactions to Hyzaar have been reported. If you develop swelling of the face, lips, or throat, call your doctor immediately. Serious swelling could obstruct your breathing.

Drug Interaction :- If Hyzaar is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before taking Hyzaar with the following:

• Barbiturates such as phenobarbital and Seconal
  
• Cholestyramine (Questran)
  
• Colestipol (Colestid)
  
• Corticosteroids (Prednisone)
  
• Diuretics that leave potassium in the body, such as Aldactone, triamterene, and
• amiloride
  
• Indomethacin (Indocin)
  
• Insulin
  
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
  
• Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
  
• Narcotic painkillers such as Demerol, Tylenol with Codeine, and Percocet
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aleve, Anaprox, and ibuprofen
  
• Other blood pressure-lowering drugs such as Procardia XL and Tenormin

Overdose

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. Information concerning Hyzaar overdosage is limited. However, extremely low blood pressure and abnormally rapid or slow heartbeat may be signs of an overdose. Other signs may include dryness and thirst, overall weakness and tiredness, restlessness and confusion, muscle pains, nausea, and vomiting.

If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.