• Hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat high blood pressure. It helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

How should you take this medication?

• Take this medication may be taken with or without food.
   
• It is best to take this medication early in the day to prevent having to wake up during the night to urinate.
   
• If you  miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

General Precautions with Hydrochlorothiazide

• Before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it, or to sulfa medications.
   
• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, asthma, allergies, gout, or diabetes.
   
• Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide.
   
• If you have diabetes, hydrochlorothiazide may affect your blood sugar levels. Check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor.
   
• Hydrochlorothiazide may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Hydrochlorothiazide.
   
• Hydrochlorothiazide may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Hydrochlorothiazide .

What are the possible side effects of Hydrochlorothiazide?

• Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
   
• This medication may cause a loss of too much body water and minerals. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these unlikely but serious symptoms of dehydration or mineral loss: very dry mouth, thirst, muscle cramps, weakness, fast/irregular heartbeat, vomiting, severe dizziness, unusual drowsiness, unusual decrease in the amount of urine, fainting, confusion, seizures.
   
• Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist :blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, constipation, lightheadedness especially when sitting up or standing; loss of appetite, nausea, rash or itching, redness of the skin.