Avalide

If Avalide gives you an allergic reaction, you'll be unable to use it. You should also avoid it if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs, and if you're unable to urinate.

Special warnings about Avalide

Avalide can cause low blood pressure, especially if your body is short of fluid. This can happen due to excessive sweating, inadequate fluid intake, diarrhea, or vomiting, as well as dialysis or use of another diuretic. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, and call your doctor if your mouth becomes dry, you feel weak or tired or sluggish, you are unusually thirsty, you feel restless or confused, you ache all over, you find you are urinating less frequently, your heart starts beating faster, or you become nauseous

If your blood pressure drops excessively, you may feel light-headed or faint, especially during the first few days of therapy. If these symptoms occur, contact your doctor. Your dosage may need adjustment. If you actually faint, stop taking the medication until you have talked with your doctor.

If you have liver or kidney disease, diabetes, gout, or lupus erythematosus, use Avalide with caution. This drug may bring out hidden diabetes. If you are already taking insulin or oral diabetes drugs, your dosage may have to be adjusted. If you have bronchial asthma or a history of allergies, you may be at greater risk for an allergic reaction to this medication.

This drug has not been tested in children.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Avalide

Alcohol may increase the effects of Avalide. Use it with caution.

If Avalide is taken with certain other drugs the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Avalide with the following:

• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• Barbiturates such as phenobarbital and secobarbital
• Cholestyramine
• Colestipol
• Insulin
• Lithium
• Narcotic painkillers such as acetaminophen, codeine phosphate, meperidine hydrochloride, and oxycodone hydrochloride
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium
• Other blood pressure medications such as atenolol and nifedipine
• Oral diabetes drugs such as chlorpropamide, glipizide, and glyburide
• Steroids such as prednisone