Get Informed: Oretic
Active Ingredient(s)
Hydrochlorothiazide
What does it do?
This product is primarily used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It increases excretion of sodium and chloride by the kidney, although the exact mechanism of its anti-hypertensive effect is not well understood.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 4:26 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:08 PM
Other Names
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Hctz
- Microzide
- Oretic
- Hydrex
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 12 Feb 1959
- Est US Patients*
- 3,733,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Oretic or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Oretic
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Oretic during the past year.
Oretic Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Oretic used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 27,600 patients that use Oretic (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | 83% |
mild
severe
|
| Heart Failure/Edema | 21% |
mild
severe
|
| Other | 3% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Oretic work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 27,600 users taking Oretic (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iGuard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 75%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Oretic outweigh the bad things.
- 14%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Oretic.
Common Side Effects of Oretic
iGuard regularly polls our more than 27,600 users taking Oretic (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
25% of patients experience side-effects on Oretic
4% of patients experience significant side-effects on Oretic
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Urinary Frequency
-
Dizziness
-
Heat Sensitivity
-
Electrolyte Problems
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Breathlessness, Constipation, Dryness, Fatigue, Grogginess/Confusion, Itch/Rash, Memory/Speech Problems, Mood/Behavior Changes, Muscle Pain/Cramps, Nausea/Vomiting, Palpitations, Sweating, Swelling/Edema, Vision Changes, Weight Gain
Global Patient Feedback for Oretic (Hydrochlorothiazide) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have read that diuretics can worsen lymphedema. Is this effect dose-dependent? Could a person benefit from a small dose of HCTZ and not cause significant problems with the lymphedema? I have been prescribed 12.5 mg.
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-15 23:46:55
Question/Comment:
I have been experiencing severe sweating for some years. Doc has not been able to determine cause. I recently took it upon myself to stop taking HCTZ. I have gradually noticed a difference with my sweating. It is summer, so I have been hot at times (other people were also) but I have not had the severe sweating I had before (sweat dripping from my head, face, body, everywhere), and I'm not always feeling hot. Also I don't seem to be as agitated when attempting to do something, like a chore, or even something as simple as reading instructions, while sitting down. I have not yet informed my doc, but will soon. I asked him about the possibility of HCTZ being the cause of my sweating before, but he didn't think it was. I feel better in so many ways since I stopped it.
61 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-06 19:24:02
Question/Comment:
i use both of thes i have not had any trouble yet i am going to talk to my dr as soon as i can
61 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-05 07:46:14
Question/Comment:
I take Lisinopril -HCTZ 20/12.5. MY MED WERE CHANGED FROM TRIAMTERENE HCTZ 12.5 BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CONTROLLONG MY BOOB PRESSURE AND I DEVELPED A RAPID HEART BEAT. I STILL HAVE A RAPID HEART BEAT SOMETIME AND ARM PAIN. MY BLOOD SUGAR KEEPS RISING. I PREVIOUSLY TOOK TRIAMETERENE,COREG AND CARDIZEM AND MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGH WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTOR. IT IS LOWER AT HOME. I TOO HAVE THE FINGER AND TOE TINGLING AND SOME PAIN. I AM SO AFARID THESE MED ARE MAKING ME DIABETIC. WHAT CAN I DO. THE DOCTOR SEEM TO THINK SO AND HAVE BENN CHANGING MED SINCE LAST YEAR. I EAT A GOOD DIET OF VEGETABLES AND PROTEIN BUT CRAVE SALTY. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FORM ANYONE AND THE PROFESSIONALS ON THIS SITE. 61 YEAR OLD FEMALE
61 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-29 18:05:54
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The HCTZ component, hydrochlorothiazide, can increase blood glucose. You can ask your doctor about taking plain lisinopril without hydrochlorothiazide. You may need to have your lisinopril dose adjusted as a result though. You may be experiencing "white-coat syndrome," which is a condition where your blood pressure is higher in the doctor's office than it is at home. It is very important to keep monitoring your blood pressure at home. It is unlikely that your medications are causing diabetes. Continue to work with your doctor to find the right balance of medications to control your blood pressure and your blood sugar.
Posted: 2010-05-16 21:37:09
Answer/Reply:
Try to cut back on salt. Also bystilic and HCTZ seem to work pretty. Bystolic drops pulse rate. Also Diovan HCT can help. Used that for several years but it started to lose it power this spring. To cope with the craving for salt, try herbal seasonings. There are a lot of good one on the market. Some give the same taste as salt and might work for you. Like all herbal products, they work on some people and not on others, Just have to try to find the ones that work for you. Typical herbal products take 60-90 days to see any real change. Good Luck, 67 male
66 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-24 09:31:10
Question/Comment:
I was told that taking Enalapril would prevent
kidney problems but noticed one of the side
effects of it is kidney problems. Also taking
nifedipine...take the nifedipine in the am
and the Enalapril in the pm. It also mentions
visual problems...I was diagnosed with
early stage Macular degeneration...could this
be from the Enalapril?
74 year old female
73 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-24 18:13:41
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Macular degeneration is most likely not from taking enalapril or nifedipine. Many patients take both of these medication with no worsening issues. Enalapril has a protective effect on the kidneys in diabetic patients unless the kidney function is already low, in which case it can should not be taken. If you notice anything getting worse, make sure to report it to your doctor.
Posted: 2010-05-14 11:20:36
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
142
Patient Comments About
Oretic