Allina Health

Hydrochlorothiazide (hye-droe-klor-oh-THYE-a-zide), Quinapril (KWIN-a-pril)

Treats high blood pressure. A lower blood pressure will reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. This medicine is a combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a diuretic (water pill).

Brand Name(s):

Accuretic

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially if you exercise, sweat more than usual, or have diarrhea or vomiting.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

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

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), gold injections, or another diuretic or water pill (such as spironolactone, triamterene). Tell your doctor if you are also using a diabetes medicine (insulin or oral medicine such as glimepiride, glyburide, metformin, Actos®, Janumet®, Januvia®), medicine to lower cholesterol (such as colesevelam, cholestyramine, colestipol, Colestid®, Questran®, or Welchol®), pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Voltaren®), a steroid medicine (such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone), tetracycline (Sumycin®), or other blood pressure medicine.
• Ask your doctor before you use any medicine, supplement, or salt substitute that contains potassium.
• Alcohol, narcotic pain relievers, or sleeping pills may cause you to feel more lightheaded, dizzy, or faint when used with this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart or blood vessel disease, congestive heart failure, or high cholesterol. Tell your doctor if you have a history of mineral imbalance (including blood sodium levels) or an allergy to penicillin or sulfa drugs. Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, glaucoma, gout, or an autoimmune disorder (such as lupus or another collagen vascular disease).
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain (with or without vomiting), severe swelling, or trouble breathing. Angioedema and other allergic reactions are rare. Angioedema is severe swelling of the throat and mouth or in the digestive system. The risk may be higher in black patients, people who have had angioedema before, or people undergoing dialysis.
• This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much and cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy. This is more likely to happen when you begin to use the medicine or if you become dehydrated.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine could affect surgery or other procedures that involve anesthetics.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you have eye pain, trouble seeing, or any change in vision.
• Even if you feel well, do not stop using this medicine without asking your doctor. This medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it will help lower it and keep it down. You may have to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

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
• Blurred vision or changes in vision
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, or problems urinating
• Confusion
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting
• Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
• Fever, chills, sore throat, body aches
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Severe stomach pain
• Yellow skin or eyes, dark-colored urine or pale stools

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

• Dry cough

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