Hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol

Hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill, also known as a thiazide diuretic. Bisoprolol is a beta-blocker.

Hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol is a combined medicine used to treat high blood pressure.

Hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol. This can lead to very low blood pressure, a serious electrolyte imbalance, or kidney failure.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your blood and urine may both be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.

If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar carefully. Taking bisoprolol may make it harder for you to tell when you have low blood sugar. Your insulin or diabetes medication needs may change while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the doctor you currently use hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol. You may need to stop for a short time.

Do not skip doses or stop using hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

Store at room temperature, away from heat and moisture. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

You should not use hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol if you cannot urinate. You should not use hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol if you have a serious heart condition like "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block," severe heart failure, or slow heartbeats that have made you faint.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide or bisoprolol, or if you have:

• severe or uncontrolled heart failure;
• slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint;
• a serious heart condition called "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (2nd or 3rd degree);
• an allergy to sulfa drugs; or
• if you are unable to urinate.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• congestive heart failure;
• asthma or other breathing disorder;
• diabetes;
• a thyroid disorder;
• glaucoma;
• peripheral vascular disease such as Raynaud's syndrome;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease (or cirrhosis);
• lupus;
• gout; or
• an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, trouble breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• chest pain;
• fast, slow, or uneven heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, like you might faint;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• shortness of breath (even with mild activity), swelling, rapid weight gain;
• liver problems—nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, feeling very tired, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• signs of an electrolyte imbalance—increased thirst or urination, constipation, muscle pain or weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, feeling jittery, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, or a feeling of choking;
• low blood sugar—headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky.

Common side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol may include:

• dizziness;
• feeling weak or tired;
• diarrhea, nausea, indigestion;
• headache; or
• cough.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: Bisoprolol 2.5 mg-Hydrochlorothiazide 6.25 mg orally once a dayMaximum dose: Bisoprolol 20 mg-Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg orally once a dayComments:-Increase the dose every 14 days if optimal response not achieved.-This drug may be substituted for titrated individual components (e.g., inadequate control on bisoprolol 2.5 to 20 mg or adequate control on hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg but with significant potassium loss). -Abrupt discontinuation should be avoided; taper therapy gradually over approximately 2 weeks.-If withdrawal symptoms occur, therapy may be temporarily reinstituted.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at once.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, leg cramps, numbness and tingling, slow heartbeats or fainting.

• Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your blood levels of bisoprolol.

• Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Hydrochlorothiazide may increase your risk of skin cancer. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors. Your doctor may want you to have skin examinations on a regular basis.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• colestipol or cholestyramine;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• lithium;
• sedatives or narcotic medicine;
• heart or blood pressure medicine--clonidine, digoxin, diltiazem, disopyramide, reserpine, verapamil, and others;
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others; or
• steroid medicine--prednisone and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.