What Are the Dangers of Hydrochlorothiazide?

Hydrochlorothiazide is a generic prescription medication commonly used to treat hypertension. Despite its effectiveness at lowering blood pressure levels, hydrochlorothiazide poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Features

• The most common side effects of hydrochlorothiazide do not pose any risk for long-term health complications. Side effects are most likely to develop if you are taking 25 mg or more of the drug per day, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Side Effects

• Side effects of hydrochlorothiazide include increased urinary frequency, dizziness, weakness, tingling in your extremities, headaches, restlessness, temporary and brief blurred vision, and erectile dysfunction.

Drug Interactions

• When taken with alcohol or barbituates, hydrochlorothiazide has the potential to cause sudden, dangerous drops in blood pressure, explains the U.S. National Library of Medication. Because hydrochlorothiazide has the potential to cause a toxic build-up of the mood-stabilizing drug lithium, doctors rarely prescribe the two medications for concurrent use.

Risks

• Serious, but rare, health risks associated with hydrochlorothiazide include the onset of type 2 diabetes, inflammation of your pancreas, blood cell shortage and electrolyte deficiencies. Life-threatening complications from hydrochlorothiazide include sudden kidney failure and potentially fatal skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Considerations

• Because hydrochlorothiazide is known to cause fetal harm, doctors rarely prescribe the drug for use in pregnant women. If you have a history of anuria, asthma, gout, diabetes, electrolyte imbalances, lupus, or kidney or liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take hydrochlorothiazide, cautions the Mayo Clinic.