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hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

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Brand names: Dyazide, Maxzide

Thiazide / Potassium-Sparing Diuretic Combination Rx

This medicine combines lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide to lower high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

What it does

This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure.

Common side effects

Dizziness, Headache, Cough

Key warnings

This medicine can harm your unborn baby.

How It Works

Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that widens blood vessels. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water. This combination helps to lower blood pressure.

How to Take It

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. Your doctor may start you on a low dose and increase it over time. You can take this medicine with or without food. Try to take it at the same time each day.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

This medicine can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines if you are breastfeeding.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.

Storage

Store this medicine at room temperature (68-77°F) away from light and moisture.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 79,221 FDA adverse event reports.

Feeling tired
10,013
Feeling sick to your stomach
9,706
Medicine not working
9,356
Loose stools
8,311
General pain
7,665
Difficulty breathing
7,584
Head pain
7,516
Feeling lightheaded
7,310
Joint pain
6,080
Using the medicine for something it is not approved for
5,680

Serious Warnings

This medicine can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. You should not take this medicine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (angioedema) to an ACE inhibitor or if you cannot urinate.

Known Drug Interactions

Monitor blood pressure, renal function, and electrolytes in patients on lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets and other agents that affect the RAS. Do not coadminister aliskiren with lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in patients with diabetes. No meaningful clinically important pharmacokinetic interactions occurred when lisinopril was used concomitantly with propranolol, digoxin, or hydrochlorothiazide.

Mechanism: Both of these medicines can cause your body to lose too much water and salt, which can lead to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances.

What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure and salt levels closely to ensure they stay in a healthy range.

Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS): Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or direct renin inhibitors (such as aliskiren) is associated with increased risk of hypotension, syncope, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not coadminister aliskiren with lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with PRINZIDE in patients with renal impairment (GFR <60 ml/min).

Mechanism: Using these two drugs together can put too much stress on your kidneys and cause your blood pressure to drop to unsafe levels.

What to do: Do not use these together if you have diabetes, and your doctor should check your kidney health if you use both.

Drug Interactions Lisinopril Hypotension - Patients on Diuretic Therapy: Patients on diuretics and especially those in whom diuretic therapy was recently instituted, may occasionally experience an excessive reduction of blood pressure after initiation of therapy with lisinopril. The possibility of hypotensive effects with lisinopril can be minimized by either discontinuing the diuretic or increasing the salt intake prior to initiation of treatment with lisinopril. If it is necessary to continue the diuretic, initiate therapy with lisinopril at a dose of 5 mg daily, and provide close medical...

Mechanism: Taking these two types of blood pressure medicines together can cause your blood pressure to drop too low, especially when you first start. This can make you feel very dizzy or lightheaded.

What to do: Your doctor may start you on a lower dose of the new medicine to keep your blood pressure steady. Be sure to stand up slowly and tell your doctor if you feel faint.

The VA NEPHRON trial enrolled 1448 patients with type 2 diabetes, elevated urinary-albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR 30 to 89.9 ml/min), randomized them to lisinopril or placebo on a background of losartan therapy and followed them for a median of 2.2 years. Patients receiving the combination of losartan and lisinopril did not obtain any additional benefit compared to monotherapy for the combined endpoint of decline in GFR, end state renal disease, or death, but experienced an increased incidence of hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury comp...

Mechanism: Both of these medicines can cause your body to hold onto too much potassium. Having high potassium levels can be dangerous for your heart and may lead to kidney problems.

What to do: Your doctor will need to monitor your potassium levels and kidney health with regular blood tests. Seek medical help if you feel muscle weakness or notice a change in your heartbeat.

Use of lisinopril with potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, eplerenone, triamterene, or amiloride), potassium supplements, or potassium-containing salt substitutes may lead to significant increases in serum potassium.

Mechanism: Both drugs stop the kidneys from getting rid of potassium. This can cause potassium to build up to unsafe levels in your blood.

What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood potassium levels closely. You may need to avoid this combination or have your doses adjusted.

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Common Questions

Can I stop taking this medicine if my blood pressure is normal?
Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor first. Your blood pressure may go back up if you stop taking it.
What should I do if I feel dizzy after taking this medicine?
Get up slowly from a sitting or lying position. If you continue to feel dizzy, talk to your doctor.
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Talk to your doctor about drinking alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can lower your blood pressure and may increase the risk of side effects.
Will this medicine cure my high blood pressure?
This medicine will help control your high blood pressure, but it is not a cure. You may need to take it for the rest of your life.
Can I take other medicines with this one?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products.
How long does it take for this medicine to work?
It may take a few weeks for this medicine to fully lower your blood pressure.
What if I have kidney problems?
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have kidney problems. This medicine may not be right for you.
Can this medicine cause allergic reactions?
Yes, this medicine can cause allergic reactions. Stop taking it and get medical help right away if you have swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.
Does this medicine interact with NSAIDs like ibuprofen?
Yes, NSAIDs can affect how well this medicine works and may increase your risk of kidney problems. Talk to your doctor before taking NSAIDs with this medicine.
Can I use salt substitutes with this medication?
Salt substitutes often contain potassium, which can be dangerous when taking this medication. Talk to your doctor before using salt substitutes.
What are the common side effects of hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene?
The most commonly reported side effects of hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene include Dizziness, Headache, Cough, Feeling tired, Lightheadedness when standing up. Based on 79,221 FDA adverse event reports. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential side effects.
Does hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene interact with other medications?
Yes, hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene has 13 known drug interactions. Notable interactions include hydrochlorothiazide, aliskiren, lisinopril. Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
What drug class is hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene?
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene belongs to the Thiazide / Potassium-Sparing Diuretic Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure.
Is hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene safe during pregnancy?
This medicine can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

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Related Health & Safety Data

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What the FDA Data Shows for hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

The FDA label for hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene (sold under brand names such as Dyazide, Maxzide) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Thiazide / Potassium-Sparing Diuretic Combination class. This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Headache, Cough.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 79,221 voluntary reports. The database also lists 13 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.

Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.

Last updated: June 29, 2023

All federal data sources used on this page