Avalide

1 What is Avalide?

Brand: Avalide

Generic: Irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide

Irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide combination is used to control high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure can decrease the risk of strokes and heart attacks. This medication can be used alone or together with other medicines.

Irbesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that blocks the angiotensin receptor and thereby prevents the action of angiotensin (powerful chemical that attaches to angiotensin receptors). As a result, Irbesartan dilate the blood vessels and blood pressure is reduced.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that helps your body excrete the unneeded water and salt through the urine to lower the blood pressure.

This product is available in tablet.

2 What to Know Before Using

Tell to your doctor if you are allergic to Irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide combination or to any other medications. You should also inform your healthcare providers if you are allergic to foods, dyes, or animals.

Pregnancy Category D – Do not use Irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide combination while you are pregnant as it can cause risk to the unborn baby.

There are no adequate studies whether Irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide combination can pass through breast milk or if it could cause harmful effects to the infant. Discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Taking this medication with Aliskiren and Dofetilide is not recommended and you may not be required to use this medication. Otherwise, alternative medicine may be prescribed for your other medications.

Taking this medication with any of the following medications is usually not recommended, but with exception in some cases. Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

  •  Acetyldigoxin
  • Amphetamine
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Benazepril
  • Captopril
  • Ceritinib
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Dabrafenib
  • Deslanoside
  • Digitalis
  • Digitoxin
  • Digoxin
  • Droperidol
  • Enalapril
  • Enalaprilat
  • Entacapone
  • Flecainide
  • Fluconazole
  • Fosinopril
  • Ketanserin
  • Levomethadyl
  • Lisinopril
  • Lithium
  • Methotrexate
  • Metildigoxin
  • Moexipril
  • Ouabain
  • Perindopril
  • Proscillaridin
  • Quinapril
  • Ramipril
  • Sotalol
  • Trandolapril
  • Trimethoprim

Taking this medication with any of the following medications may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

  • Aceclofenac
  • Acemetacin
  • Alacepril
  • Amtolmetin Guacil
  • Aspirin
  • Benazepril
  • Bepridil
  • Bromfenac
  • Bufexamac
  • Captopril
  • Carbamazepine
  • Celecoxib
  • Cholestyramine
  • Choline Salicylate
  • Cilazapril
  • Clonixin
  • Delapril
  • Dexibuprofen
  • Dexketoprofen
  • Diclofenac
  • Diflunisal
  • Dipyrone
  • Droxicam
  • Enalapril
  • Enalaprilat
  • Etodolac
  • Etofenamate
  • Etoricoxib
  • Felbinac
  • Fenoprofen
  • Fepradinol
  • Feprazone
  • Floctafenine
  • Flufenamic Acid
  • Flurbiprofen
  • Fosinopril
  • Ginkgo
  • Gossypol
  • Ibuprofen
  • Ibuprofen Lysine
  • Imidapril
  • Indomethacin
  • Ketoprofen
  • Ketorolac
  • Licorice
  • Lisinopril
  • Lornoxicam
  • Loxoprofen
  • Lumiracoxib
  • Meclofenamate
  • Mefenamic Acid
  • Meloxicam
  • Moexipril
  • Morniflumate
  • Nabumetone
  • Naproxen
  • Nepafenac
  • Niflumic Acid
  • Nimesulide
  • Oxaprozin
  • Oxyphenbutazone
  • Parecoxib
  • Pentopril
  • Perindopril
  • Phenylbutazone
  • Piketoprofen
  • Piroxicam
  • Proglumetacin
  • Propionic Acid
  • Propyphenazone
  • Proquazone
  • Quinapril
  • Ramipril
  • Rofecoxib
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Salsalate
  • Sodium Salicylate
  • Spirapril
  • Sulindac
  • Temocapril
  • Tenoxicam
  • Tiaprofenic Acid
  • Tolfenamic Acid
  • Tolmetin
  • Topiramate
  • Trandolapril
  • Valdecoxib
  • Zofenopril

Some medical conditions can interact with this medication. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

3 Proper Usage

Your doctor will advise you to do exercises for weight control. Your diet may also be changed to low salt and low fat diet to aim the desired effect of the medication.

This medication will not cure your high blood pressure but it will help you to control it. Itis also only intended to use if you failed in treatment using other medications. You should take this medication exactly as directed. Do regular visits to your doctor as well to monitor your progress with this medication.

This medication is to be taken one tablet per day, with or without food.

If you are taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take Avalide®, take the irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide combination at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after these medicines.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is near for your next dose, skip the missed dose and start again to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Store the medication in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep out of reach of children. Do not keep expired medications. 

4 Precautions to Take

Your doctor will be checking you regularly for the effectiveness of the medication. Blood tests may be ordered as well for undesirable effects.

Contraceptives must be used to keep you or your partner from getting pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you think you have become pregnant while using this medication.

Slowly get up from a lying or sitting position since this medication may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Avoid driving, operating machineries, or any other unsafe activities as well. Check with your doctor if this problem continues or gets worse.

Check with your doctor immediately if you have confusion, dizziness, muscle pain, weakness, or a fast heartbeat while under Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide combination treatment. Drink plenty of water when exercising or during hot weather to avoid dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

If you are having blurring of vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment, check with your doctor right away.

This medication may affect your blood sugar. Check with your doctor right away if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests.

Talk to your doctor if you are planning to take any other medication, especially medications that contain potassium.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages while you are using this medicine. Alcohol is a downer and it may make the low blood pressure effect worse. It may also cause some unwanted effects.

5 Potential Side Effects

If any of the following side effects occur, check with your doctor right away:

  • Abdominal or stomach pain
  • Bloody or cloudy urine
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • Difficult with breathing
  • Difficult, burning, or painful urination
  • Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  • Frequent urge to urinate
  • Lower back or side pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
  • Swelling
  • Weakness or heaviness of the legs
  • Blurred vision
  • Convulsions
  • Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle pain or cramps
  • Sweating
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Fever
  • Hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
  • Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  • Muscle spasms or stiffness
  • Upper right abdominal or stomach pain
  • Yellow eyes and skin

Less serious side effects:

  • Headache
  • Sunburn
  • Acid or sour stomach
  • Chills
  • Congestion
  • Cough
  • Diarrhea
  • Dryness or soreness of the throat
  • Joint pain
  • Sneezing
  • Stomach discomfort or upset
  • Tender, swollen glands in the neck
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trouble swallowing

Not all side effects are listed above. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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