Some people shorten the name of the prescription hypertension medication hydrochlorothiazide to hydrochlorozide. Despite its effectiveness at lowering blood pressure levels, hydrochlorozide poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Types of Side Effects

Side effects of hydrochlorozide include weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, fever, skin rashes, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, blurred vision and impotence.

Drug Interactions

Several drugs pose a risk for low blood pressure when taken with hydrochlorozide, such as alcohol, barbiturates, narcotic pain relievers and other blood pressure medications, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Hydrochlorozide increases the risk of toxic effects from the mood-stabilizing drug lithium.

Warning

Because hydrochlorozide is known to cause dizziness, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how the drug affects you.

Risks

Some patients develop electrolyte imbalances like low potassium or sodium levels while taking hydrochlorozide. Other risks associated with the drug include inflammation of your pancreas, liver dysfunction and jaundice, severe allergic reactions, kidney failure, and life-threatening skin rashes like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Considerations

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

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Hydrochlorothiazide (Oral Route)

U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed: MICROZIDE (hydrochlorothiazide) capsule, gelatin coated