Lozol (Indapamide)

Indapamide is used for:

Treating high blood pressure alone or along with other medicines. It is also used to treat salt and water retention (swelling) associated with congestive heart failure.

Indapamide is a diuretic. It works by causing the kidneys to eliminate large amounts of water and salts.

Do NOT use indapamide if:

·         you are allergic to any ingredient in indapamide or to a sulfonamide medicine (eg, sulfamethoxazole)

·         you are unable to urinate

·         you are taking ketanserin

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using indapamide:

Some medical conditions may interact with indapamide. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

·         if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

·         if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

·         if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

·         if you have heart problems (eg, irregular heartbeat, heart failure), liver problems (eg, cirrhosis), kidney disease, gout, lupus, problems urinating, or swelling

·         if you have severe or persistent vomiting, or low blood levels of sodium or potassium, or if you are on a low-salt (sodium) diet

·         if you have had a certain neurosurgical procedure (sympathectomy)

·         if you are receiving fluids through a vein (parenteral fluids)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with indapamide. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

·         Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) because they may decrease indapamide's effectiveness

·         Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril) because the risk of kidney problems may be increased

·         Diazoxide because the risk of high blood glucose levels, high uric acid levels, or low blood pressure may be increased

·         Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) or corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) because they may increase the risk of indapamide's side effects

·         Amantadine, antineoplastic agents (eg, cyclophosphamide), digitalis glycosides (eg, digoxin), ketanserin, lithium, or other blood pressure medicines because the risk of their side effects may be increased by indapamide

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if indapamide may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use indapamide:

Use indapamide as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

·         Take indapamide by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.

·         Indapamide may increase the amount of urine or cause you to urinate more often when you first start taking it. To keep this from disturbing your sleep, try to take your dose before 6 pm.

·         If you miss a dose of indapamide and you are taking 1 dose daily, take the missed dose if you remember the same day. Skip the missed dose if you do not remember until the next day. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use indapamide.

Important safety information:

·         Indapamide may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use indapamide with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

·         Indapamide may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.

·         Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.

·         Your doctor may check your blood electrolytes while you take indapamide to check for a fluid or electrolyte imbalance. Tell your doctor right away if you experience decreased urination; dry mouth; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; increased thirst; muscle pain, weakness, or cramping; restlessness; severe dizziness or drowsiness; stomach problems; or unusual tiredness or weakness.

·         Your doctor may have also prescribed a potassium supplement for you. If so, follow the dosing carefully. Do not start taking additional potassium on your own or change your diet to include more potassium without first checking with your doctor.

·         Indapamide may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to indapamide. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.

·         Tell your doctor or dentist that you take indapamide before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

·         Diabetes patients - Indapamide may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.

·         Indapamide may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking indapamide.

·         Lab tests, including blood electrolyte, glucose, and uric acid levels, and kidney function, may be performed while you use indapamide. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

·         Use indapamide with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially low blood sodium or potassium.

·         Indapamide should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.

·         PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using indapamide while you are pregnant. It is not known if this medicine is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking indapamide.

Possible side effects of indapamide:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Back pain; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness or lightheadedness when siting up or standing; drowsiness; headache; nausea; nervousness; runny nose; trouble sleeping; upset stomach; vomiting; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; chest pain; dark urine; decreased urination or urination problems; dry mouth; fainting; fast heartbeat; fatigue; fever, chills, cough, or sore throat; increased thirst; loss of appetite; numbness of the hands or feet; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness; severe stomach pain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; symptoms of low blood potassium (eg, irregular heartbeat; muscle pain, weakness, or cramping);symptoms of low blood sodium (eg, confusion, mental or mood changes, seizures, sluggishness);unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 FREE (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include nausea; vomiting; weakness.

 Proper storage of indapamide:

Store indapamide at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep indapamide out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

·         If you have any questions about indapamide, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

·         Indapamide is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

·         If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

·         Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take indapamide or any other medicine. Only your  health care provider has the  knowledge and  training to decide  which medicines are right for you.This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for  treating any patient or  health condition. This is  only a  brief  summary  of general information about indapamide.It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to  indapamide. This information is not specific medical  advice  and does not  replace information you receive from your health care provider.You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using indapamide.