Generic Name: chlorothiazide (KLOR oh THYE a zide)
Brand names: Diuril, Diuril Sodium
What is chlorothiazide?
Chlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Chlorothiazide treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Chlorothiazide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about chlorothiazide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorothiazide or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, or if you have liver disease, kidney disease, asthma, allergies, gout, lupus, or diabetes.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of chlorothiazide. Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you light-headed (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to the side effects of chlorothiazide.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
What should I discuss with my doctor before taking chlorothiazide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to chlorothiazide, or if you are unable to urinate.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before taking chlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you have:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
asthma or allergies;
gout;
lupus;
diabetes; or
if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take chlorothiazide.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether chlorothiazide is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Chlorothiazide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take chlorothiazide?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Your blood and urine may need to be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.
Chlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using a thiazide diuretic.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Store the tablets at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture.
See also: Chlorothiazide dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I 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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, and muscle weakness or limp feeling.
What should I avoid while taking chlorothiazide?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of chlorothiazide.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Chlorothiazide side effects
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. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
nausea and vomiting with weakness, loss of appetite, headache, hallucinations, muscle pain, and/or seizure;
confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
urinating more or less than usual or not at all;
easy bruising or bleeding;
numbness or tingly feeling;
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
dizziness, spinning sensation;
diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps;
muscle spasm;
loss of interest in sex; or
blurred vision.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Chlorothiazide Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Edema:
Oral or IV: 500 to 1000 mg once or twice a day.
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:
Oral or IV: 500 to 1000 mg once or twice a day.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Edema:
Note: The manufacturer states that IV and oral dosing are equivalent. Some clinicians may use lower IV doses; however, because of poor oral absorption of chlorothiazide, IV dosing in infants and children has not been well established.
Infants less than 6 months:
Oral: 10 to 30 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses
Maximum dose: 375 mg/day orally
Anecdotal reports have used up to 40 mg/kg/day (unlabeled).
IV (unlabeled): 2 to 8 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses
Anecdotal reports have used up to 20 mg/kg/day
Infants greater than 6 months and Children:
Oral: 10 to 20 mg/kg/day in 1 to 2 divided doses
Maximum dose: 375 mg/day orally in children less than 2 years or 1 g/day orally in children 2 to 12 years
IV (unlabeled route): 4 mg/kg/day in 1 to 2 divided doses
Anecdotal reports have used up to 20 mg/kg/day
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:
Note: The manufacturer states that IV and oral dosing are equivalent. Some clinicians may use lower IV doses; however, because of poor oral absorption of chlorothiazide, IV dosing in infants and children has not been well established.
Infants less than 6 months:
Oral: 10 to 30 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses
Maximum dose: 375 mg/day orally
Anecdotal reports have used up to 40 mg/kg/day (unlabeled).
IV (unlabeled): 2 to 8 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses
Anecdotal reports have used up to 20 mg/kg/day
Infants greater than 6 months and Children:
Oral: 10 to 20 mg/kg/day in 1 to 2 divided doses
Maximum dose: 375 mg/day orally in children less than 2 years or 1 g/day orally in children 2 to 12 years
IV (unlabeled route): 4 mg/kg/day in 1 to 2 divided doses
Anecdotal reports have used up to 20 mg/kg/day
What other drugs will affect chlorothiazide?
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you light-headed (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to the side effects of chlorothiazide.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
lithium;
digoxin (Lanoxin);
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
steroids (prednisone and others);
other blood pressure medications;
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others; or
insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with chlorothiazide. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
More chlorothiazide resources
- Chlorothiazide Side Effects (in more detail)
- Chlorothiazide Dosage
- Chlorothiazide Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Chlorothiazide Drug Interactions
- Chlorothiazide Support Group
- 1 Review for Chlorothiazide - Add your own review/rating
- chlorothiazide Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Chlorothiazide Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Chlorothiazide Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Chlorothiazide Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Chlorothiazide MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Diuril Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Diuril Sodium Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
Compare chlorothiazide with other medications
- Edema
- High Blood Pressure
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorothiazide.
See also: chlorothiazide side effects (in more detail)
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