INDAPAMIDE (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Lozol

In Canada?

• Lozide
• Apo-Indapamide
• Gen-Indapamide
• Novo-Indapamide
• Nu-Indapamide

Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.

Category

• Antihypertensive
• Diuretic

Description

Indapamide (in-DAP-a-mide) belongs to the group of medicines known as diuretics.It is commonly used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. Ifit continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly.This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys resultingin a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may alsoincrease the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occurif blood pressure is controlled.

Indapamide is also used to help reduce the amount of water in the bodyby increasing the flow of urine.

Indapamide is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the followingdosage form:

Oral
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For indapamide, thefollowing should be considered:

Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to indapamide or other sulfonamide-type medicines. Alsotell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances,such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy?Indapamide has not been studied in pregnant women.However, indapamide has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problemsin animal studies.

In general, diuretics are not useful for normal swelling of feet and handsthat occurs during pregnancy. Diuretics should not be taken during pregnancyunless recommended by your doctor.

Breast-feeding?It is not known whether indapamide passes intobreast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problemsin nursing babies.

Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only in adultpatients, and there is no specific information comparing use of indapamidein children with use in other age groups.

Older adults?Dizziness or lightheadedness and signs and symptomsof too much potassium loss are more likely to occur in the elderly, who areusually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of indapamide.

Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingindapamide, it is especially important that your health care professionalknow if you are taking any of the following:

• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine)?Use with indapamide mayincrease the chance of side effects of digitalis glycosides

• Lithium (e.g., Lithane)?Use with indapamide may cause highblood levels of lithium, which may increase the chance of side effects

Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of indapamide. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
• Gout (history of)?Indapamide may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease?May prevent indapamide from working properly

• Liver disease?Higher blood levels of indapamide may occur,which may increase the chance of side effects

Proper Use of This Medicine

Indapamidemay cause you to have an unusual feeling of tiredness when you begin to takeit. You may also notice an increase in the amount of urine or in your frequencyof urination. After taking the medicine for a while, these effects shouldlessen. In general, to keep the increase in urine from affecting your sleep:

• If you are to take a single dose a day, take it in the morning afterbreakfast.
• If you are to take more than one dose a day, take the last dose nolater than 6 p.m., unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

However, it is best to plan your dose or doses according to a schedulethat will least affect your personal activities and sleep. Ask your healthcare professional to help you plan the best time to take this medicine.

To help you remember to take indapamide, try to get into the habit of takingit at the same time each day.

For patients taking indapamide for high blood pressure:

• In addition to the use of the medicine your doctor has prescribed,treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and carein the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your doctorwill tell you which of these are most important for you. You should checkwith your doctor before changing your diet.
• Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signsof the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and thatyou keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well.
• Remember that this medicine will not cure your high blood pressurebut it does help control it. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directedif you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problemssuch as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

Dosing?The dose of indapamide will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage doses of indapamide. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so:

• For oral dosage forms (tablets):
  • Adults: 2.5 to 5 milligrams once a day.

Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it assoon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip themissed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage?To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It isimportant that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make surethat indapamide is working properly.

This medicine may cause a loss of potassium from yourbody:

• To help prevent this, your doctor may want you to:
  • eat or drink foods that have a high potassium content (for example,orange or other citrus fruit juices), or
  • take a potassium supplement, or
  • take another medication to help prevent the loss of the potassiumin the first place.
• It is very important to follow these directions. Also, it is importantnot to change your diet on your own. This is more important if you are alreadyon a special diet (as for diabetes), or if you are taking a potassium supplementor a medicine to reduce potassium loss. Extra potassium may not be necessaryand, in some cases, too much potassium could be harmful.

Check with your doctor if you become sick and have severe or continuingvomiting or diarrhea. These problems may cause you to lose additional waterand potassium.

For patients taking this medicine for high blood pressure:

• Do not take other medicines unless they havebeen discussed with your doctor. This especially includes over-the-counter(nonprescription) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, hay fever,or sinus problems, since they may tend to increase your blood pressure.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they mayneed medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following sideeffects occur:

Signs and symptoms of an imbalance of water or potassium in the body

Dryness of mouth; increased thirst; irregular heartbeat; mood or mentalchanges; muscle cramps or pain; nausea or vomiting; unusual tiredness or weakness; weak pulse

Rare

Skin rash, itching, or hives

Other side effects may occurthat usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go awayduring treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check withyour doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Less common or rare

Diarrhea; dizziness or lightheadedness,especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position; headache; loss of appetite; trouble in sleeping; stomach upset

Other side effects not listed abovemay also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check withyour doctor.