This medication is used alone or with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Methyldopa blocks certain natural chemicals (e.g., epinephrine, norepinephrine) that can raise your blood pressure. Chlorothiazide helps your body get rid of excess water. It is a "water pill" (diuretic).
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Overview | Photos | How
To Use | Side
Effects | Precautions | Missed
Dose | Drug
Interactions | |
Aldoclor
Uses
This medication is used alone or with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Methyldopa blocks certain natural chemicals (e.g., epinephrine, norepinephrine) that can raise your blood pressure. Chlorothiazide helps your body get rid of excess water. It is a "water pill" (diuretic). Notes
- Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood mineral levels such as potassium/sodium, COOMBs, blood tests, liver function tests) should be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
- Consult your doctor for more details.Lifestyle changes such as starting an exercise program, stopping smoking, limiting alcoholic beverages, and making diet changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.
Storage
- Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
- Protect from freezing.
- Do not store in the bathroom.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Overdose
- Symptoms of overdose may include: muscle weakness, muscle spasms, extreme tiredness, dizziness, stomach/abdominal pain, lightheadedness.
How
To Use - Take this medication by mouth with or without food, 1 to 3 times daily or as directed by your doctor.Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.
- Your doctor will usually start you on the individual medications, switching you over to this combination product when the best dose combination for you is found.
- It may take several weeks to find the right dose for you.Your doctor may recommend that you eat foods rich in potassium (e.g., bananas or orange juice) while taking this medication.
- Your doctor may also prescribe a potassium supplement for you to take during treatment with this drug.Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it.
- To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.Drugs that can decrease the absorption of chlorothiazide include cholestyramine and colestipol.
- If you are taking either of these drugs, take this medication at least 4 hours after cholestyramine and 2 hours after colestipol.It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well.
- Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
- Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped.
- Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
- Your doctor may adjust your dose of this medication when you start or stop taking other blood pressure medications .Learn how to monitor your blood pressure while taking this medication.
- This will help you and your doctor make sure the medication is working well.When this medication is used for an extended time, it may not work as well, and you may need a higher dose or a different medication.
- Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well (e.g., your blood pressure readings increase.)If you have any questions regarding this information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Side
Effects - Dizziness, drowsiness, nasal congestion, headache, increased need to urinate, and weakness may occur.
- If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects."Water pills" (diuretics) like chlorothiazide can cause large losses of body water and minerals (e.g., potassium, sodium).
- Tell your doctor immediately if you notice severe muscle cramping, weakness, irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, difficulty concentrating), a decrease in the amount of urine, extreme thirst/dry mouth, fainting or seizure.In rare cases, this medication may increase your level of a certain natural substance made by the body (prolactin).
- For females, this increase in prolactin may result in unwanted breast milk, missed/stopped periods, or difficulty becoming pregnant.
- For males, it may result in decreased sexual ability, inability to produce sperm, or enlarged breasts.
- If you develop any of these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: swelling of ankles/feet, unexpected or rapid weight gain, unusual bruising/bleeding, involuntary movements, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat).Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat.This medication may rarely cause very serious (rarely fatal) liver disease.
- If you notice any of the following unlikely but very serious side effects, tell your doctor immediately: dark urine, persistent vomiting/nausea, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing skin/eyes.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
- Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before taking methyldopa with chlorothiazide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to either of them; or to sulfites; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
- Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe kidney failure (inability to make urine), active liver disease (e.g., hepatitis or cirrhosis), history of liver disease caused by medication.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: asthma, low red blood count (e.g., hemolytic anemia), diabetes, a certain genetic condition (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), gout, heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, lupus, stroke/transient ischemic attack, pheochromocytoma, Parkinson's disease.This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution while engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.This drug may infrequently make your blood sugar level rise, causing or worsening diabetes.
- Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst.
- If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugar regularly.
- Report any increases in blood sugar to your doctor.This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths and sunlamps.
- Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.Kidney function declines as you grow older.
- This medication is removed by the kidneys.
- Therefore, elderly people may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness and difficulty concentrating.This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.
- Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This medication passes into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant.
- Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this combination of medications.
- Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Missed
Dose - If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
- If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
- Do not double the dose to catch up.
Drug
Interactions - Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it.
- Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: cisapride, dofetilide.If you are currently using either of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting methyldopa with chlorothiazide.Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine) within 2 weeks before, during and after treatment with methyldopa.
- In some cases a serious, possibly fatal drug interaction may occur.
- If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: digoxin, entacapone, iron products (e.g., ferrous sulfate), levodopa, amphetamines, quinidine, lithium, medication to lower blood sugar (e.g., glyburide, insulin), corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone, prednisone), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen).Before taking this medication, tell your doctor of any other blood pressure medications you are taking (e.g., beta blockers such as propranolol, calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine, ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril, diuretics such as furosemide).Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients that could cause drowsiness or increase your heart rate/blood pressure.
- Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, phenobarbital), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., hydrocodone, codeine), psychiatric medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazadone).Caffeine may increase your blood pressure.
- Caffeine can be found in nonprescription diet medications, soft drinks, coffee and tea.
- Limit caffeine intake.This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (e.g., matching blood, parathyroid), possibly causing false test results.
- Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
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CONDITIONS
OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute
for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information
is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions
or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular
drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional
should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or
discontinuing any course of treatment. |