chlorthalidone

Generic Name: chlorthalidone
Other Brand Names: Hygroton, Thalitone

What is chlorthalidone?

Chlorthalidone is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

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Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking chlorthalidone?

Do not use this medication if you:

  • are unable to urinate; or

  • if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Before using chlorthalidone, tell your doctor if you have:

  • kidney disease;

  • liver disease;

  • asthma or allergies;

  • gout;

  • lupus; or

  • diabetes.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use chlorthalidone, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Chlorthalidone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take chlorthalidone?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Your blood and urine may both be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Store the tablets at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose of chlorthalidone?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about chlorthalidone?
Your pharmacist has information about chlorthalidone written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of chlorthalidone?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting;

  • feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;

  • fast or uneven heartbeat;

  • muscle pain or weakness;

  • urinating less than usual or not at all;

  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

  • red or purple spots on your skin;

  • numbness or tingly feeling; or

  • nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Continue using chlorthalidone and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

  • diarrhea;

  • constipation;

  • loss of appetite;

  • dizziness;

  • headache; or

  • muscle spasm.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about chlorthalidone?

Do not use this medication if you are unable to urinate, or if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, asthma, allergies, gout, lupus, or diabetes.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of chlorthalidone.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking chlorthalidone?

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of chlorthalidone.

Avoid using other medicines that make you light-headed (narcotic pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures). They can add to the side effects of chlorthalidone.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Chlorthalidone can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

What other drugs will affect chlorthalidone?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • lithium;

  • digoxin (Lanoxin);

  • steroids (prednisone and others);

  • other blood pressure medications;

  • insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use chlorthalidone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect chlorthalidone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of chlorthalidone?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a chlorthalidone overdose may include nausea, weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, thirst, and muscle pain or weakness.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008