HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL belongs to a class of medication called 'anti-hypertensive agents' prescribed alone or in combination with other drugs to lower the raised blood pressure. Hypertension (High blood pressure) is a condition in which the force exerted by the blood against the artery walls becomes so high that it causes health problems, such as heart disease.
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL contains two medicines: Ramipril (blood pressure-lowering agent) and Hydrochlorothiazide (diuretics or water pills). Ramipril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitor that lower increased blood pressure by blocking a naturally occurring substance known as angiotensin II (that tightens your blood vessels). It allows these constricted blood vessels to relax and therefore helps lower high blood pressure. On the other hand, Hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic) works by increasing the amount of urine passed out from the kidneys. It effectively reduces excess fluid overload in the body and treats oedema (swelling) associated with heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease. This reduces the heart's workload and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, both help lower high blood pressure, reducing heart attack or stroke chances.
You can take HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL with a meal or after/before a meal. Your doctor will advise you on the exact dosage and how often you have to take HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL based on your medical condition. Sometimes, you may experience headaches, tiredness, slow heart rate, and nausea. Most of these side effects of HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor. HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL may lower your blood pressure, especially if taken with alcohol. So, avoid driving and operating heavy machinery.
Try not to stop taking this medicine of your own. You should not stop using the HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL even if your blood pressure becomes normal. Doing so may worsen your condition. Tell your doctor if you have had or currently have liver, kidney, or heart problems. HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL is not recommended in pregnancy and lactation. You should regularly monitor your blood pressure and heart rate. Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or are allergic to HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the body's swelling.
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL contains Ramipril and hydrochlorothiazide. Ramipril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that lowers increased blood pressure by blocking a naturally occurring substance known as angiotensin II (that tightens your blood vessels). It allows these constricted blood vessels to relax and therefore helps lower high blood pressure. On the other hand, Hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic) works by increasing the amount of urine passed out from the kidneys. It effectively reduces excess fluid levels in the body and treats oedema (swelling) associated with heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease. This reduces the heart's workload and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, both help lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of heart attack or stroke. However, HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL does not cure high blood pressure (hypertension) but does help control it. In addition to this, HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL also reduces the physical effects of anxiety.
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL should not be given to the people allergic to HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL, have low blood pressure (less than 90 mm of Hg), have had a heart attack, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, are pregnant women, or planning to get pregnant and breastfeeding women. HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL may alter your blood sugar level, so tell your doctor about this before using HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL. Besides this, it is contraindicated in low blood pressure (hypotension), cardiogenic shock (sudden stopping of blood flow to the heart), anuria (patients with nil urine output), and aortic stenosis (heart valve problem). HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is unknown. So, it is better to tell your doctor if you take HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL and breastfeeding. Do not consume alcohol with HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure. Avoid potassium supplements with HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL as they may lead to high potassium levels in the blood. Regular blood tests and blood pressure monitoring are recommended while taking HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL. Drink a lot of fluids as HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL can cause dehydration, so to avoid unpleasant side effects, increase the intake of fluids.
Drug-Drug Interactions: HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL may interact with other diuretics, blood pressure-lowering drugs (aliskiren, metoprolol, sacubitril, sacuatorvastatin), anti-epilepsy medicines (carbamazepine, phenobarbital), anti-depression medicines (lithium), immune-suppressing drugs (cyclosporine), anti-diabetic drugs (metformin) and painkillers (ibuprofen, aspirin), anti-gout drugs (allopurinol), pain killers (diclofenac, ibuprofen), potassium supplements, birth control pills (drospirenone), immune system affecting drugs (everolimus, sirolimus) etc. If you are taking any of the above, speak with your doctor.
Drug-Food Interactions: You are recommended not to consume alcohol along with HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions: HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL should not be given to people with cardiogenic shock (when the heart fails to pump required blood to the body), heart valve problem (stenosis), low blood pressure (hypotension), coronary heart disease, liver disease, or heart failure, gout, sensitive skin to sunlight, low serum potassium (hypokalemia), patients with nil urine output (anuria), etc.
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL may enhance the hypotensive (low blood pressure) effect if alcohol is taken along with. For better advice, you should consult your doctor about whether you can take HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL with alcohol.
The use of HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL or any ACE inhibitors (Ramipril) is usually contraindicated during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. It may cause harm to the developing fetus. Hence, you should always consult your doctor before using HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL.
Use of HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL is not recommended during the breastfeeding stage.
Drive with caution, HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL may cause blurry vision, and dizziness or weariness may occur.
Rare elevation in the liver enzymes (like bilirubin) has been observed while taking HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL, so it must be taken with caution. If you have a history of liver diseases/conditions, the dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL to be taken with caution, especially in case of severe kidney disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL should be given with precaution in hemodialysis condition.
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL is not recommended for children. The safety and effectiveness of HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL have not been established in children due to limited testing of this drug on children by competent authorities worldwide. If necessary, your doctor will decide whether to give HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE+RAMIPRIL or not.
Blood pressure is the measurement of the force our heart uses to pump blood to all body parts. Hypertension is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. High blood pressure (hypertension) can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked), brain damage (stroke), and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Systolic pressure is the pressure when the heart pumps blood out. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is when your heart is at the resting stage between heartbeats. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm of Hg, it means the systolic pressure is 140 mm of Hg, and diastolic pressure is 90 mm of Hg. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg.