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| Pronunciation |
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 (benz
THYE a
zide) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Exna® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Diuretic, Thiazide |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to any other thiazide water pills, sufonamides,
benzthiazide, or any other part of the medicine.
- If you have kidney disease or failure.
- If you are pregnant.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It
gets rid of extra fluid (salt and water) in the
body.
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| How does it work? |
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- Benzthiazide lowers blood pressure and gets rid of extra salt and
water in the body by acting on the
kidneys.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with food.
- Take at a similar time every day.
- Take early in the day to prevent getting up at night to use the
bathroom.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can increase high
blood pressure or weight gain.
- Not for use in kidney disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure.
These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen;
wear protective clothing and eyewear.
- Watch for gout attacks. If you have sudden pain in a single joint,
like the toe, talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Feeling lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may
help.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Low potassium. It may make you feel tired, weak, or have numbness and
tingling, muscle cramps, constipation, vomiting, or rapid heartbeats. May
require taking extra potassium and/or eating foods rich in potassium. Talk with
healthcare provider.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- If you are using this medicine for fluid removal, check daily weight.
Report a weight gain or no weight loss.
- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Follow diet plan (low salt) and exercise program as recommended by
healthcare provider.
- Check blood work (potassium). Talk with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Signs of low potassium (see above). Can lead to unusual heartbeat
problems.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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