Can HCTZ Cause Depression?

Medications are developed in order to treat and cure illnesses and diseases. Researchers spend years refining and perfecting a medication so it can receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration and eventually help people feel better.

Sometimes medications that fix one medical problem can have side effects that cause other medical problems. It's a double-edged sword: the original problem is controlled, but then the patient must face another one if they continue taking the medication. One example of a drug that can work well but cause other problems is HCTZ.

What Is HCTZ?

• HCTZ is short for hydrochlorothiazide, a medication commonly known as a beta blocker that is used to control high blood pressure and edema (water retention). It's available in generic form or as brand names such as Esidrix, HydroDIURIL, Oretic and Microzide.

  HCTZ is essentially a water pill: it prevents the body from absorbing too much sodium, which causes water retention. Overall it works well against hypertension and edema. It keeps blood pressure and potassium at reasonable levels and flushes excess water out of the body.

Potential Side Effects

• Patients who take HCTZ have reported experiencing a variety of side effects. Mild side effects include nausea, vomiting, excess urination, skin irritation and gas. These side effects generally diminish over time.

  Some patients have reported very serious side effects. These side effects include allergic reactions, numbness and irregular heartbeat. In some cases, patients have reported experiencing severe depression and anxiety.

Depression and HCTZ

• Patients have reported experiencing depression and anxiety after taking HCTZ, though it's not as common as other side effects. HCTZ, like other beta blockers, helps regulate the flow of adrenaline in the body to keep blood pressure steady. This can leave patients feeling fatigued and sluggish. Some patients can tolerate it; others cannot, especially those who have experienced symptoms of depression in the past.

  Most patients who experience depression after taking HCTZ are able to manage their symptoms. However, a few patients have reported thoughts of suicide while taking HCTZ. A study published in German Medical Weekly in 2003 described how a 43-year-old woman attempted suicide after HCTZ was prescribed to treat her hypertension. The suicidal feelings disappeared after she stopped taking the medication.

What to Do If Side Effects Occur

• Most people experience some sort of side effects while taking medication. It's important to report your experiences to your doctor if you take HCTZ and begin to experience symptoms of depression.

  Don't wait for weeks or months to report your side effects. You may feel that you can manage it on your own, but your doctor needs to know immediately in order to determine if this is the right medication for you. You don't know if the symptoms will progress to something more serious, so it's better to report before your feelings get out of hand.

Alternatives

• You aren't out of luck if you and your doctor decide HCTZ isn't right for you. You have many alternative ways to keep your blood pressure and water retention at manageable levels.

  A few of the natural alternatives include losing weight, limiting your sodium intake, adjusting your diet, exercising and reducing your alcohol consumption. If you must take medication to control the symptoms, then your doctor can prescribe one of the many alternative medications to treat hypertension and edema. Over time you'll find the right combination of treatments that will work for you.