Hydrochlorothiazide: Uses, Side Effects, and Drug Interactions

# Hydrochlorothiazide: What You Should Know Hydrochlorothiazide, often called HCTZ, is a water pill that helps lower blood pressure and reduce swelling in your body. It works by helping your kidneys remove extra salt and water through urine. Doctors prescribe this medication to treat high blood pressure and to help people with certain conditions that cause fluid buildup in their legs, ankles, or other parts of the body. By lowering blood pressure, this medicine helps protect your heart and prevent serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes. Before taking hydrochlorothiazide, it's important to know some safety information. Tell your doctor if you're taking other blood pressure medicines, especially ACE inhibitors like lisinopril, because combining them can sometimes cause your blood pressure to drop too much. Since this medicine makes you urinate more, drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods with potassium, like bananas and oranges, to stay balanced. You should have regular check-ups with your doctor while taking this medication so they can monitor how well it's working and make sure you're not having any problems. If you experience dizziness, weakness, or unusual tiredness, contact your doctor right away.