This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.
Brand Names: US
Ziac [DSC]
What is this drug used for?
- It is used to treat high blood pressure.
What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?
- If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
- If your child has a sulfa allergy.
- If your child has any of these health problems: Breathing problems like asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart block, heart failure (weak heart), shock caused by heart problems, or slow heartbeat.
- If your child is not able to pass urine.
- If your child is taking lithium.
- If your child is taking dofetilide.
- If your child is using another drug like this one. If you are not sure, ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist.
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.
Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?
- Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness until you see how this drug affects your child. These are things like riding a bike, playing sports, or using items such as scissors, lawnmowers, electric scooters, toy cars, or motorized vehicles.
- To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, have your child rise slowly if your child has been sitting or lying down. Have your child be careful going up and down stairs.
- Check blood pressure and heart rate as the doctor has told you.
- Have your child’s blood work and other lab tests checked as you have been told by the doctor.
- This drug may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your child’s health care providers and lab workers that your child takes this drug.
- Alcohol may interact with this drug. Be sure your child does not drink alcohol.
- Talk with your child’s doctor before your child uses marijuana, other forms of cannabis, or prescription or OTC drugs that may slow your child’s actions.
- This drug may prevent some signs of low blood sugar like fast heartbeat. This may raise the risk of severe or long-lasting low blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes, children, and people who are fasting. This includes people who are having surgery, are not eating like normal, or are throwing up. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
- If your child has high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your child’s blood sugar closely.
- Do not stop giving this drug to your child all of a sudden. If you do, chest pain that is worse and in some cases heart attack may occur. The chance may be higher if your child has certain types of heart disease. To avoid side effects, you will want to slowly stop this drug as ordered by the doctor. Call the doctor right away if your child has new or worse chest pain or if other heart problems happen.
- Watch for gout attacks.
- If your child is on a low-sodium or sodium-free diet, talk with your child’s doctor.
- Have your child be careful in hot weather or while your child is being active. Have your child drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
- Talk with the doctor before giving your child OTC products that may raise blood pressure. These include cough or cold drugs, diet pills, stimulants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, and some natural products or aids.
- Tell the doctor if your child sweats more than usual, has fluid loss, is throwing up, or has diarrhea. This may lead to low blood pressure.
- This drug may make your child sunburn more easily. Use care if your child will be in the sun. Tell your child’s doctor if your child sunburns easily while taking this drug.
- This drug may make it harder to tell if your child has signs of an overactive thyroid like fast heartbeat. If your child has an overactive thyroid and stops taking this drug all of a sudden, it may get worse and could be life-threatening. Talk with the doctor.
- If your child has had a very bad allergic reaction, talk with the doctor. Your child may have a chance of an even worse reaction if your child comes into contact with what caused the allergy. If your child uses epinephrine to treat very bad allergic reactions, talk with the doctor. Epinephrine may not work as well while your child is taking this drug.
If your child is pregnant or breast-feeding a baby:
- Talk with the doctor if your child is pregnant, becomes pregnant, or is breast-feeding a baby. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to your child and the baby.
What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of fluid and electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, fast or abnormal heartbeat, severe dizziness or passing out, increased thirst, seizures, feeling very tired or weak, decreased appetite, unable to pass urine or change in the amount of urine produced, dry mouth, dry eyes, or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
- Signs of a pancreas problem (pancreatitis) like very bad stomach pain, very bad back pain, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
- Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
- Chest pain that is new or worse.
- Slow heartbeat.
- Shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
- Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
- A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
- This drug can cause certain eye problems. If left untreated, this can lead to lasting eyesight loss. If eye problems happen, signs like change in eyesight or eye pain most often happen within hours to weeks of starting this drug. Call the doctor right away if your child has these signs.
- If your child has lupus, this drug can make your child’s lupus active or get worse. Tell the doctor right away if your child gets any new or worse signs.
- Rarely, certain types of skin cancer have happened in people taking hydrochlorothiazide. Protect your child’s skin from the sun, and have skin checked as you have been told by the doctor. Call the doctor right away if your child has a change in color or size of a mole, or any new or changing skin lump or growth.
What are some other side effects of this drug?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:
- Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak.
- Headache.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to your national health agency.
How is this drug best given?
Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.
- This drug may cause your child to pass urine more often. To keep your child from having sleep problems, try not to give too close to bedtime.
- Give this drug at the same time of day.
- If your child takes cholestyramine or colestipol, talk with the pharmacist about how to give them with this drug.
What do I do if my child misses a dose?
- Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
- If it is close to the time for your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
- Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
How do I store and/or throw out this drug?
- Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
General drug facts
- If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
- Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
- Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.
Last Reviewed Date
2023-05-16
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