chlorthalidone
Brand names: Thalitone
Chlorthalidone is a water pill that helps lower blood pressure and reduce swelling. It works by helping your kidneys remove extra salt and water from your body.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$3.55/unit
Generic Price
$0.08/unit
Generic Savings
98%
Generic Available
Yes (16 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats high blood pressure, either alone or with other drugs.
Common side effects
Loss of appetite, Upset stomach, Nausea
Key warnings
If you have kidney problems where you aren't producing urine, you should not take this medicine.
How It Works
Chlorthalidone is a diuretic, which means it helps your body get rid of extra fluid. It works by acting on your kidneys to increase the amount of salt and water that you pass in your urine. This helps to lower your blood pressure and reduce swelling.
How to Take It
Take chlorthalidone once a day in the morning with food. Start with a low dose, like 25 mg, and your doctor may increase it to 50 mg or 100 mg if needed. For swelling, you might start with 50 to 100 mg daily, or 100 mg every other day. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Using water pills when you are otherwise healthy during pregnancy is not a good idea and could be risky for you and your baby. If you have swelling during pregnancy, try raising your legs and wearing support hose first. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine while pregnant.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store chlorthalidone tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) and protect them from light, in a tightly closed container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 6,005 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 11,035 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
11,035
Death-Related Reports
656
Hospitalization Reports
3,583
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 861 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 704 |
| 3 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 700 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 643 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 563 |
| 6 | PAIN | 541 |
| 7 | HEADACHE | 513 |
| 8 | DYSPNOEA | 509 |
| 9 | OFF LABEL USE | 498 |
| 10 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 471 |
| 11 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 455 |
| 12 | ARTHRALGIA | 432 |
| 13 | ASTHENIA | 420 |
| 14 | BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED | 388 |
| 15 | HYPERTENSION | 387 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
If you have kidney problems where you aren't producing urine, you should not take this medicine. Also, if you are allergic to chlorthalidone or other sulfa drugs, avoid this medication.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Renal clearance of lithium is reduced by diuretics, such as chlorthalidone increasing the risk of lithium toxicity ( 7 ) NSAIDS increase risk of renal dysfunction and interfere with antihypertensive effect ( 7 ) Dual inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system: Increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and hyperkalemia ( 7 ) Lithium: Increases in serum lithium concentrations and lithium toxicity ( 7 ) 7.1 Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents including Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors (COX-2 Inhibitors) In patients who are elderly, volume-depleted (including ...
Mechanism: These drugs work in different ways to lower blood pressure, which can increase the risk of very low blood pressure and kidney problems.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure and kidney function closely while you are taking these medications.
Chlorthalidone and related drugs may decrease arterial responsiveness to norepinephrine.
Mechanism: Chlorthalidone makes your blood vessels less reactive to norepinephrine. This can make it harder for norepinephrine to raise your blood pressure when needed.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure closely and may need to adjust your medication doses.
In separate single or multiple dose pharmacokinetic interaction studies with chlorthalidone, nifedipine, propranolol, hydrochlorothiazide, cimetidine, metoclopramide, propantheline, digoxin, and warfarin, the bioavailability of fosinoprilat was not altered by coadministration of fosinopril with any one of these drugs.
Mechanism: Taking these medications together does not affect the amount of active medicine that enters your body.
What to do: You can generally take these together without adjusting the dose, though your doctor will monitor your response.
Common Questions
Can I take this with other blood pressure medicines?
What should I do if I feel dizzy?
Will this medicine cure my high blood pressure?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Does this medicine affect blood sugar?
Can this medicine affect my potassium levels?
How long does it take for this medicine to work?
What if I have side effects?
Can I stop taking this medicine on my own?
Does this medicine interact with other medications?
What are the common side effects of chlorthalidone?
Does chlorthalidone interact with other medications?
What drug class is chlorthalidone?
Is there a generic version of chlorthalidone?
Is chlorthalidone safe during pregnancy?
Has chlorthalidone been recalled?
Active Recalls
Failed Dissolution Specifications
AvKARE
Related Medications in Thiazide-Like Diuretic
Other drugs grouped near chlorthalidone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
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aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
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amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
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amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
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amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
Compare with chlorthalidone →
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Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for chlorthalidone
The FDA label for chlorthalidone (sold under brand names such as Thalitone) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Thiazide-Like Diuretic class. This medicine treats high blood pressure, either alone or with other drugs. Official labeling lists 12 commonly reported side effects, including Loss of appetite, Upset stomach, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 6,005 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.08 versus $3.55 for the brand — a 98% generic savings.
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 (currently 1 recall record on file), 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). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
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: November 24, 2022
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages