Dyazide – Information, Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Drug trade Name- Dyazide

Category- Treating Hypertension /Edema

Generic Name- Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene

Group- Diuretics

Introduction and Quick Information:

Dyazide is a prescription medication recommended to treat edema (water retention) and high blood pressure (hypertension). Dyazide is a combination of the drug called hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.  This combination of dyazide belongs to a group of medication known as diuretics or water pills.  It works by getting rid of the extra water and sodium from your body through urine.

Dyazide is also prescribed to treat hypertension and by lowering down blood pressure it helps to prevent heart attacks, stroke and kidney problems.

This medication may also be recommended for other health issues not listed in the medication guide. You may ask your doctor to explain dyazide uses and associated benefits.

Is Dyazide Approved by FDA?

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dyazide on March 21, 2001, for treating hypertension and edema. If you have any doubt over dyazide FDA approval either you may ask your healthcare provider or may visit FDA office website to get sure and pure information.

Usage and Benefits of Dyazide:

This medication is a group of diuretics (water pills). Dyazide increases the quantity of urine you make which further helps your body to throw away excess water with salts mixed this also reduces the high levels of salts in your body.  Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide are used in patients who are at risk of developing severe potassium loss. This medicine is also prescribed for treating high blood pressure.  By lowering down high blood pressure. Dyazide also helps prevent heart attacks, strokes and kidney related problems. But it does not mean that this medicine is particularly prescribed for these health conditions.

Apart from hypertension, Dyazide is also prescribed to treat edema (water retention) seen with health conditions such as liver disease or kidney disease and congestive heart failure. Dyazide also helps in improving symptoms of trouble breathing.

Important notification-Dyazide does not treat congestive heart failure and related condition that cause the body to preserve fluid.

Side Effects of Dyazide:

Side effects are a fact that is always associated with medicines but it does not mean every patient who takes medicine gets the side effects.  Side effects occur due to some health condition and poor lifestyle routine that is mostly against the safety instruction of medicine. However, there is not one reason behind side effect occurrence; you may ask your health care provider about the precautions that you need to take while taking this medicine. Here are some medically known Dyazide side effects such as-

• Swelling or rapid weight gain
• purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin
• peeling, and red skin rash
• sore throat, fever, headache with a severe blistering
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• low potassium (extreme thirst, uneven heart rate, leg discomfort, increased urination, muscle weakness, confusion)
• high potassium (weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling, irregular heart rate)
• memory problems, trouble concentrating, feeling unsteady, hallucinations
• weakness, loss of appetite, fainting, seizure, headache, shallow breathing or breathing that stops
• slow, fast, or uneven heartbeat
• feeling like you might pass out
• unusual bleeding, easy bruising
• nausea and vomiting
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back
• unusual bleeding (mouth, rectum, vagina, nose)
• red spots, patchy skin color
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• blurred vision
• skin rash, dry mouth
• mild nausea, diarrhea, constipation

This is not a complete list of Dyazide side effects; you may ask your doctor about other possible side effects of this medicine.  In case of side effects, immediate medical attention is recommended.

General Recommended Dosages of Dyazide:

The average dosage approved by FDA is HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE (25mg) and TRIAMTERENE (37.5mg) in combination. Dyazide dosage depends on number of factors that are directly associated with patient’s health condition and other things such as-

• Response to Dyazide
• Other medical condition you may have
• Intake of other medicines including vitamin supplements and herbal products

Do not try to adjust your dosing schedule unless your health care provider allows you to do so. There are some essential things which you should keep in your mind such as-

• This medicine comes in capsule form and is usually taken by mouth
• You can take Dyazide with or without food but tell your doctor if you have an upset stomach.
• Take your doses on time to maintain the level of Dyazide in blood.
• Since Dyazide speed up urination hence it will be better for you to take this medicine in morning ( to avoid discomforts of using bathroom throughout the night)
• For best results, you must take Dyazide as prescribed
• If you are unsure about anything associated with your dosage, stop taking this medicine and talk to your doctor
• Do not stop taking Dyazide unless your healthcare provider does not allow you to do so.

If you have any sorts of doubt over your dosing schedule, consult your doctor and discuss your problems.

 In Case I Miss my Dose?

Missed dose consequences for this drug are not known. In case of a missed dose, first inform your doctor and after that, if your health care provider instructs you to take missed dose then take it otherwise skip it. Do not try to double your dose to make up for the missed one as it could lead to overdose adverse effects.

In Case I Take Overdose?

Before taking any medicine or drug, you should discuss possible overdose side effects of drug that you are going to take. Like other medicines or drugs, dyazide has also some overdose adverse reaction or side effects that can do some severe damage or worsen your condition if you ignore them. Ask your doctor to explain the harshness of dyazide overdose consequences before prescribing this medicine for you to treat hypertension and edema (water retention). Overdose symptoms may include weakness, warmth or flushing in your face, nausea, increased urination, vomiting, fever, muscle spasms etc.

Drug Interactions of Dyazide:

Drug interactions are common but important topics to discuss with your doctor. Since there are plenty of drugs which interact to dyazide hence you should have proper knowledge regarding other drugs that can interact with this medicine. Here are some drugs that interact with dyazide such as-

• Steroids
• Lithium
• amphotericin B
• methenamine
• a blood thinner such as warfarin
• gout medication such as probenecid, colchicines, allopurinol
• insulin or diabetes medicines
• laxatives
• an ACE inhibitor such as enalapril, lisinopril, quinapril, ramipril, benazepril
• indomethacin (Indocin) or other NSAIDs such as nabumetone, naproxen, meloxicam, etodolac, ibuprofen, aspirin, piroxicam,
• muscle relaxers,
• sleeping pills
• anti-depressant medicines
• seizures medicines

Talk to your doctor if you want to know more about drug interaction risk and severity of its effects. There may be some other drugs not listed in the medication guide that interact to dyazide.

Lifestyle and Food Habits you must follow when on Dyazide:

Since this medicine is recommended to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) hence, your doctor may prescribe you diet and exercise routine to get rapid results. There are some foods that can worsen your condition hence during treatment you should follow a planned diet and exercise routine as suggested by your doctor. Talk to your health care provider, if you have some food habits that can interact with your drug and if you are unable to perform a certain exercise. There are certain health conditions that you should discuss with your doctor before taking this medicine, some of them are:

• High potassium levels
• If you are taking potassium supplements
• Kidney disease or are unable to urinate
• Any breathing disorder
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Cirrhosis or other liver diseases
• A history of kidney stones
• Any pancreas disorder
• An allergy to sulfa drugs
• Lupus, gout

If you have any of health discomforts, you may need dosage adjustment by passing certain medical tests.

Important notification- avoid foods or diet high in salt as food containing too much salt can make dyazide ineffective or less effective.

How safe is Dyazide for Pregnant women or Nursing Mothers?

Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide can pass into breast milk that may harm a nursing baby. Hence without discussing with your doctor, do not breastfeed your baby while taking dyazide. Although Dyazide does not harm an unborn baby however you should tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant while taking this hypertension and edema medication he may opt for some other options instead of drug to ensure your safe pregnancy.

Complications and Conditions Possible due to prolonged use of Dyazide:

There is no sure information available that Dyazide has habit-forming capabilities. However, you should not use this medicine longer than recommended even if Dyazide may not be producing expecting results. Only your doctor can decide further use of this medicine.

Availability of Dyazide

This FDA approved drug is available at every FDA and government approved drug stores. You can buy Dryzide from online drug stores as well after providing required information regarding your prescription. Buying drugs online does not only provide you with proper drug information but sometimes discount coupons also for making it affordable for you.