Captopril and Hydrochlorothiazide : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Do not take captopril and hydrochlorothiazide if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide, call your doctor immediately. Captopril and hydrochlorothiazide may harm the fetus.

The combination of captopril and hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat high blood pressure. Captopril is in a class of medications called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It works by reducing certain chemicals that tighten blood vessels, so blood flows more fluidly. Hydrochlorothiazide is in a class of medications called diuretics (“water pills”). It works by causing the kidneys to remove unnecessary water and salt from the body into the urine.

High blood pressure is a common condition, and when left untreated it can damage the brain, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of the body. Damage to these organs can cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision, and other problems. In addition to taking medications, making lifestyle changes will also help control your blood pressure. These changes include eating a diet low in fat and salt, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising for at least 30 minutes most days, not smoking, and consuming alcohol in moderation.

The combination of captopril and hydrochlorothiazide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals. To remind you to take captopril and hydrochlorothiazide, take it at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any parts you don’t understand. Take captopril and hydrochlorothiazide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less, or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start with a low dose of captopril and hydrochlorothiazide and gradually increase your dose, no more than once every 6 to 8 weeks.

Captopril and hydrochlorothiazide control high blood pressure but do not cure it. Keep taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide even if you feel fine. Do not stop taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide without consulting your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to captopril (Capoten); hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ; Microzide, Oretic); Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (in Prinzide, in Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic, in Quinaretic), ramipril (Altace) and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka); sulfonamides; any other medication; or any of the ingredients in captopril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking valsartan and sacubitril (Entresto) or if you stopped taking them within the last 36 hours. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take captopril and hydrochlorothiazide, if you are also taking valsartan and sacubitril. Also, tell your doctor if you have diabetes and are taking aliskiren (Tekturna, in Amturnide, in Tekamlo, in Tekturna HCT). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take captopril and hydrochlorothiazide if you have diabetes and are also taking aliskiren.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: Amphotericin B (Ambisome, Amphotec, others); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex); calcium supplements; cancer chemotherapy drugs; cholestyramine (Prevalite); colestipol (Colestid); digoxin (Lanoxin); insulin or oral medications for diabetes; lithium (Lithobid); gout medications such as probenecid (Probalan); medications that suppress the immune system such as methenamine (Hiprex, Urex); monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate); nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, in Bidil), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket), and nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat, others); oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos); other diuretics; other medications for high blood pressure; analgesics; phenobarbital (Luminal); and potassium supplements. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you closely for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lupus; scleroderma (a condition in which extra tissue grows on the skin and some organs); heart failure; diabetes; allergy; asthma; or liver or kidney disease.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide. Alcohol can make the side effects of captopril and hydrochlorothiazide worse.
• You should know that diarrhea, vomiting, not drinking enough fluids, and sweating a lot can lead to a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness and fainting.

Talk to your doctor before using salt substitutes that contain potassium. If your doctor prescribes a low sodium (low salt) diet, follow those instructions carefully.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you forgot.

Captopril and hydrochlorothiazide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• cough
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• taste changes
• rash
• itching

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dry mouth
• thirst
• weakness
• lack of energy
• restlessness
• muscle pains or cramps
• infrequent urination
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• fainting
• chest pain
• rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat

Captopril and hydrochlorothiazide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medicine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unnecessary medications must be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and others cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medicine down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medications is through a drug take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage / recycling department to find out about take-back programs in your community. Check out the FDA drug safe disposal website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children, since many containers (such as those containing weekly pills and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not resistant to children and small children can easily open them. To protect young children from poisoning, always close the safety caps and immediately place the medicine in a safe place, one that is upright and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot wake up, immediately call 911 for emergency services.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• drowsiness
• coma
• difficulty breathing
• stomach pain

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should monitor your blood pressure regularly to determine your response to captopril and hydrochlorothiazide. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to captopril and hydrochlorothiazide.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking captopril and hydrochlorothiazide.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.