Chlorothiazide (klor-oh-THYE-a-zide)

Treats edema. This medicine is a diuretic (water pill) and an antihypertensive.

Brand Name(s):

Chlorothiazide Sodium Novaplus, Sodium Diuril

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Many other drugs can interact with chlorothiazide. Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are taking, including those you get without a prescription.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
  • Blood pressure medicine
  • Insulin, or diabetes medicine that you take by mouth
  • Lithium
  • NSAIDs, such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib
  • Steroid medicine, such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, asthma, lupus, or gout. Tell your doctor if you recently had surgery.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Blood in your urine, or change in how much or how often you urinate
• Confusion, weakness, and muscle twitching
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Pain, burning, itching, or irritation where the needle is placed
• Patchy hair loss
• Headache or joint pain
• Numbness in your feet, legs, or arms
• Problems with sex (in men)

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088