New to diuretics-Help with bad side effects!

[DylansMom]

Newbie here.I've just started Hydrochlorothiazide (5 weeks)(hypertension around 130/95) and I can't take what I think are side effects. A very "full" head with tingling on the right side now combined with a "full" or heaviness in my chest. This is only alleviated by lying down for over 10 minutes on my left side. The GP claims it can't be from the drug!! I was only 122 lbs prior to this and I've now lost 6 pounds with all the worry. I just reduced my dosage to half a pill even though it is supposed to be 25mg. I don't care what she says.I can't see her for 8 more days!!
Do you think it will do me more harm than good to half my dosage without doc knowing? How long does this drug stay in your body? Thanks for any tips.

[jtu91952]

Hi Dylansmom and welcome to the board. There are many posts on this board about the good, bad and ugly of hctz. I have been on hctz since 1999. I do not like it bcuz it can increase glucose and cholesterol levels. That is my only complaint and i don't notice too much of a reduction in my bp.

Sorry but i can't say i've experienced any of those side effects. I have suffered pain on my right side and exhaustion but i don't think it was hctz. Why not type "hctz" in your browser and see what the side effects are. No i don't think halfing the dosage is a bad thing. I am on 25mgs but i only take 12.5mgs. My bp is still high but i don't care 140/69. That could be bcuz i ate too much today, tgif.

[zip2play]

Mom,

HCTZ is a fairly easy hypertension drug...and there are some DOOZIES out there, believe me.
I think tyour chest fullness is caused by any one of the several viruses making the rounds right now.
The weight loss isn't caused by distress, but rather from water weight loss. That's the way HCTZ lowers your blood pressure, by removing water from the vascular bed...and like less water in a hose: lower pressure.
If you ask your doctor for something else you will probably get an Rx for a beta-blocker and THEN you;ll find a really unpleasant drug.

I think cutting your dosage to 25 mg. is just fine until you see your doctor. What kind of BP readings did you get with the 50's...with the 25's??

[DylansMom]

Thanks for the replys. I decided to half the dose of 25mg to 12.5 for 2 days but the symptoms just got worse. My head was so tight and tingling. Then I quartered the dose but ended up go ER with a terrible headache and my BP was 166/101! It eventually came down without any intervention and then they gave me Atavan? (for nerves I believe). I didn't even take the HCTZ now for 2 days and I think my symptoms are worse. Perhaps it's migraines but I've never had them before.
Do you think I've done myself more harm by stopping cold turkey? I don't want to take any more drugs until I see the doctor. I've also noticed ringing in my ear when I lie down and try to alleviate the bad head. By the way, are beta blockers the next step after diuretics or can I just try another diuretic?

[zuzu8]

There are no set "rules" for which drug might be prescribed next after diuretics. Your medical history and overall health , plus current unmedicated BP would (or should!) all be taken into consideration...

I had terrible side effects from diuretics AND beta blockers (after the betas trashed me with fatigue and depression, we went to diuretics which ALSO screwed me roundly by lowering my potassium levels which no amount of supplementation nor potassium rich foods seemed to help) and then my next drug was one of the angiotensin 2 receptor blockers (an ARB) called Diovan. The ARBs seem to have the fewest side effects of all the BP meds.... I have zero side effects on this drug and great BP control.... but since everyone is different, what works for one person may not for another.


When do you see your doctor next? In a few days? Is she aware of the hospital emergency?
If not, see if you can make an appt. earlier. Your symptoms may or may not be related to your elevated blood pressure or caused by the diuretic or the cessation of the diuretic, but it's best to get this looked into further as soon as possible. Your orig. BP 0f 130/95 is certainly not very serious so a low dose an ARB might be perfect for you.

zuzu xxx BFA... (BIG fan of ARBs)