Hydrochlorothiazide

=Hydrochlorothiazide=

How it works
It acts on your body to reduce the amount of fluid it stores, as well as opening up your blood vessels, lowering your blood pressure. //Inhibits reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the proximal segment of the distal convoluted tubule and produces a corresponding increase in potassium excretion. Also exhibits a vasodilator effect//

Questions to Ask
What medications? //ACEi + ATB (acute hypotension), NSAIDs// //(triple whammy)// - medical conditions? //gout// - allergies? //sulphonylurea//

How to take
Take with a glass of water, preferably in the morning (due to diuretic effect), and no later than 6pm for a second dose It is important to keep taking the medication everyday, to ensure that it works properly

Side effects
- dizziness (let it know how it affects you before driving a car or anything else that requires high levels of concentration) - nausea - headache - weakness

Other advice?
- if you start to feel dizzy when getting out of bed or standing, get up slowly. This allows your body to get used to the change in blood pressure - It is also best in hot weather/exercise to keep up your fluid intake to reduce any 'dizzy spells'

CMI
[|Dithiazide] [|AMH] [|High Blood Pressure - Self-care Card]