AVALIDE - Irbesartan HCTZ

Avalide Used For

Avalide (Irbesartan-Hydrochlorothiazide) medication is prescribed for the treatment of hypertension.

Directions for Avalide

The recommended initial dose of irbesartan is 150 mg once daily. Patients requiring further reduction in blood pressure should be titrated to 300 mg once daily. The recommended dosage for hydrochlorothiazide is 12.5 to 50 mg once daily. Avalide can be taken with or without food.

How Avalide medication works

Allergy to sulfa-based drugs such as sulfa antibiotics should be check before starting on Avalide. Pregnant women, especially those in second and third trimester of pregnancy should avoid using the medication since it can cause injury and even death of the developing baby. Lactating mothers should also not take Avalide since hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Side effects of Avalide

Like all other medications, Avalide also has its side effects which include allergic reactions like difficulty in breathing, closing of throat, swelling of lips, tongue or face; or hives, fast heartbeats, little or no urine, unusual fatigue, abnormal bleeding or bruising, yellow skin or eyes, confusion or fainting, dizziness, nausea or upset stomach, diarrhea, headache, cough, muscle pain or cramps, rash, anxiety or nervousness. It is advisable to consult a doctor immediately if any of the above listed side effects get aggravated or persist over an extended period.

Other Avalide medication Information

One of the active ingredients of Avalide - hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) which increases the amount of water and salt removed through urine and decreases edema (swelling or fluid retention). It is necessary to drink plenty of water while on Avalide to avoid chances of dehydration. As soon as pregnancy is detected, talk to your doctor and stop taking Avalide. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Do not stop taking this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor.