Aliskiren/Hydrochlorothiazide, Oral a-lis-KY-ren hy-droh-klor-oh-THY-a-zide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: renin inhibitor/diuretic; antihypertensive

Generic and brand names: aliskiren/hydrochlorothiazide, oral; Tekturna HCT

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat high blood pressure. You may take this medicine alone or with other medicines.

This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before you start taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• asthma
• diabetes
• edema (swelling)
• glaucoma
• gout
• heart valve problems
• kidney or liver problems
• imbalances such as too much sodium or too little potassium in your blood
• lupus.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it regularly every day even if you feel better. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may need to take this medicine for a long time to control your blood pressure. If your provider has also prescribed another medicine, take it regularly.

You may take this medicine with or without food, but you should take it the same way every day. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. Taking it with high-fat meals may keep the medicine from being absorbed properly.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: dizziness.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you lightheaded or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly to check your blood pressure and to adjust your dosage, if necessary.

This medicine may cause eye problems that could lead to vision loss. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have eye pain or a decrease in vision.

This medicine may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when you first start taking it. You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. If you feel dizzy or faint while you are standing, lie down for a while and then get up slowly. Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and a sunscreen lotion that is SPF15 or higher until you know how you will react to the sun. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing); chest pain; irregular or fast heartbeat; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; severe dizziness or fainting; trouble swallowing; severe abdominal pain.

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away): Swelling of the face, hands, or feet; irregular or fast heartbeat, yellowish eyes or skin, severe sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea; severe rash; eye pain; decrease in vision.

Other: Headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness, drowsiness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, stomach pain, back pain, cough.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alcohol
• allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• alpha blockers such as doxazosin (Cardura) and prazosin (Minipress)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) and quinidine
• antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), pindolol (Visken), and propranolol (Inderal)
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor), felodipine, nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), lovastatin (Mevacor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), corticotropin (ACTH), cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol Concentrate, Sterapred, Sterapred DS), prednisolone (Prelone), and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• diuretics such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), eplerenone (Inspra), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• natural remedies such as arginine, cats claw, devils claw, dong quai, garlic, ginger, ginseng, goldenseal, hawthorn, horny goat weed, kelp, ma huang, natural licorice, nettle, and yohimbe
• lithium (Lithobid)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin), meperidine (Demerol), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), and oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, nabumetone (Relafen), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
• salt substitutes that contain potassium or potassium supplements such as K-Dur, Kaochlor, Kaon, Kaon-Cl, Kay Ciel, Klor-Con, Klorvess, K-Lyte, K-Lor, and Micro-K, and Slow-K

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Grapefruit affects the way this medicine works and may increase the risk of side effects.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.