PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

aliskiren vs hydrochlorothiazide

Side-by-side comparison of aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

major Known Drug Interaction

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).

Recommendation: Avoid this combination if you have diabetes or kidney problems, and talk to your doctor about safer options.

Drug Class
aliskiren Direct Renin Inhibitor
hydrochlorothiazide Thiazide Diuretic
Type
aliskiren Prescription
hydrochlorothiazide Prescription
Summary
aliskiren

Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It helps lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

hydrochlorothiazide

No summary available.

What It Treats
aliskiren

Tekturna is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children who weigh at least 110 pounds and are 6 years or older. Lowering your blood pressure helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. It is important to manage high blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle too.

hydrochlorothiazide

Information not available.

How It Works
aliskiren

Tekturna works by blocking a substance in your body called renin. Renin helps to control your blood pressure. By blocking renin, Tekturna helps to lower your blood pressure.

hydrochlorothiazide

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
aliskiren
  • Diarrhea
hydrochlorothiazide
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
FAERS Reports
aliskiren
  • Weakness 367
  • Fall 356
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 336
  • Shortness of breath 314
  • Headache 301
hydrochlorothiazide
  • Tiredness 10,013
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 9,706
  • Loose stools 8,311
  • Discomfort 7,665
  • Difficulty breathing 7,584
Serious Warnings
aliskiren

Tekturna can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. If you become pregnant, stop taking Tekturna right away and tell your doctor.

hydrochlorothiazide

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
aliskiren

Tekturna can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Tekturna.

hydrochlorothiazide

No pregnancy information available.

How to Read This aliskiren vs hydrochlorothiazide Comparison

aliskiren is classified in the Direct Renin Inhibitor drug class, while hydrochlorothiazide sits within the Thiazide Diuretic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aliskiren has 1,674 submissions while hydrochlorothiazide has 43,279. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to using these drugs together blocks the body's blood pressure control system too much, which can hurt the kidneys or cause high potassium levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.