indapamide vs metolazone
Side-by-side comparison of indapamide and metolazone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lozol
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Indapamide is a water pill that helps lower blood pressure and reduce fluid buildup in the body. It is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
Metolazone is a water pill that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water. It can also lower blood pressure.
Indapamide is used to treat high blood pressure, either alone or with other medicines. It also treats fluid retention (edema) caused by congestive heart failure. It helps your body get rid of extra salt and water.
Metolazone treats water retention (edema) caused by heart failure or kidney problems. This includes conditions like nephrotic syndrome or reduced kidney function. It also treats high blood pressure, and can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. A faster-acting form of metolazone (Mykrox) is for new patients with mild to moderate high blood pressure.
Indapamide is a diuretic, also known as a water pill. It helps your kidneys remove more salt and water from your blood, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces fluid buildup in your body.
Metolazone is a diuretic, which means it helps your kidneys remove salt and water from your body. This reduces the amount of fluid in your blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and reduce swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called thiazide-like diuretics.
- • Headache
- • Weakness
- • Constipation
- • Dizziness
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Lightheadedness
- • Drowsiness
- • Fatigue
- • Weakness
- Low sodium levels in the blood 1,286
- Sudden damage to the kidneys 925
- Shortness of breath 898
- Feeling unsteady or lightheaded 875
- Feeling sick to your stomach 863
- Difficulty breathing 1,204
- Death 868
- Sudden kidney damage 790
- Feeling sick to your stomach 735
- Kidney failure 712
If you have anuria (inability to urinate), you should not take this medicine. Also, you should not take this medicine if you are allergic to indapamide or other sulfa drugs.
If you have trouble urinating, are in a hepatic coma or precoma, or are allergic to metolazone, you should not take this medicine. Using diuretics when pregnant can be dangerous to the baby. Only use this medicine during pregnancy if absolutely necessary for a medical condition.
Talk to your doctor before taking indapamide if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if it is clearly needed.
Using diuretics during pregnancy can expose the mother and fetus to unnecessary risks. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking metolazone while pregnant or breastfeeding. It should only be used if medically necessary.
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How to Read This indapamide vs metolazone Comparison
indapamide is classified in the Thiazide-Like Diuretic drug class, while metolazone sits within the Thiazide-Like Diuretic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, indapamide has 4,847 submissions while metolazone has 4,309. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 indapamide and metolazone — 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.