Brand Name

Avalide {Bristol-Myers Squibb}

Generic Name

hydrochlorothiazide and irbesartan, pronounced HYE droe KLOR oh THYE azide and ir be SAR tan)

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Drug Guide

The information contained in the following drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

What is Avalide?

Avalide is a medication to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure in adults. Avalide maybe prescribed to keep your blood vessels from narrowing, which helps to lower your blood pressureand improve your blood flow.

Avalide may also be used for purposes not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Avalide

Avalide is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, which means that it helps your blood vesselsfrom narrowing, which lowers your blood pressure and improves your blood flow.

Hydrochlorothiazide, which is part of Avalide, is a thiazide diuretic, or water pill, thathelps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Avalide is in FDA pregnancy category D. You should not use Avalide if you are pregnant. If youbecome pregnant while taking Avalide you should stop taking this medication and contact yourdoctor right away. Avalide may cause injury or death to an unborn baby if taken during yoursecond or third trimester. You should be sure to use effective birth control while takingAvalide. Do not breast-feed while taking Avalide, as we do not know if this medication can passinto breast milk.

While you are taking Avalide you should not drink alcohol. Because drinking alcohol canfurther lower your blood pressure you may experience an increase in certain side effects ofAvalide if you drink while on this medication.

Unless your doctor has advised you to do so, you should not use potassium supplements or saltsubstitutes while you are taking Avalide.

Continue to use Avalide as your doctor has directed, and be sure to get your blood pressurechecked regularly.

Tell your doctor right away if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweatingmore than usual while you are taking Avalide. It is easy to become dehydrated while takingAvalide, which can lead to extremely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.

Avalide may cause a condition which results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, andcan lead to kidney failure. You should call your doctor immediately if you experience unexplainedmuscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, and especially if you also have a fever, exhaustion anddark colored urine.

Before You Take Avalide

If you are allergic to irbesartan or hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ,HydroDiuril, Microzide) you should not take Avalide.

If you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels you should tell your doctor before takingAvalide.

You should inform your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, or lupus beforetaking Avalide.

If you suffer from asthma, glaucoma, gout you should tell your doctor before startingtreatment with Avalide.

Let your doctor know if you have low or high levels of potassium in your blood, diabetes, anallergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin or are unable to urinate before starting treatment withAvalide.

Until you know how you will react to Avalide you should avoid getting up too fast from a lyingor sitting position, as you may experience dizziness. Be sure to get up slowly and steadyyourself to prevent a fall, especially when you first begin your treatment with Avalide.

You need to be aware that certain conditions can cause low blood pressure, and make theeffects of Avalide more pronounced . Tell your doctor right away if you experience diarrhea,heart disease, intense sweating, vomiting, dialysis, or if you are on a low salt diet or takingdiuretics (water pills).

Avalide Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• aspirin
• barbiturates like phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)
• blood pressure medications
• celecoxib (Celebrex)
• cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran)
• colestipol (Colestid)
• diabetes medication (oral) or insulin
• diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze)
• diuretics or water pills like amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), furosemide (Lasix),hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Avalide, Lopressor HCT, Vasoretic, Zestoretic),spironolactone (Aldactone) and torsemide (Demadex)
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate)
• meloxicam (Mobic)
• muscle relaxers suchlike baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine(Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin) and tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet)
• narcotic pain medications like codeine (Tylenol #3), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin,Vicoprofen), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), oxycodone (OxyContin, Combunox, Roxicodone,Percocet), fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Fentora, Duragesic, Ionsys, Lazanda, Onsolis), methadone(Methadose, Dolophine) and morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph)
• steroids (prednisone)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Avalide. You should tell yourdoctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins,supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking anew medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Avalide

You should take Avalide exactly as directed by your doctor. It is important that you do nottake Avalide in larger or smaller amounts, or for longer or shorter than recommended. Follow thedirections on your prescription label and follow any dose changes carefully if your doctorinstructs you to change your dose.

Avalide should be taken at the same time every day, and with a full (8oz) glass of water.

Avalide can be taken with or without food.

You may need to take Avalide on a long-term basis for the treatment of high blood pressure. Itis important that you follow up with your doctor on a regular basis to be sure that Avalide ishelping your condition and not causing you to have any adverse or harmful effects. It may take upto 4 weeks for Avalide to control your blood pressure.

Avalide should be stored at room temperature, and away from both moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose of Avalide you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as youremember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if your next dose isless than 12 hours away you should skip the dose you missed.

Avalide Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Avalide and seekemergency medical help immediately.

• allergic reaction including hives, swelling in your face, lips, throat or tongue and troublebreathing
• appetite loss
• chest pain and heaviness, even with mild exertion
• confusion
• dry mouth
• easy bruising
• high potassium symptoms, such as a slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, or a tinglyfeeling
• increased thirst and urination
• jaundice
• faint feeling or lightheadedness with pale skin
• fast or pounding heartbeats
• mood changes
• nausea
• restless feeling
• seizures
• swelling and rapid weight gain
• unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness alongside a fever, exhaustion and dark coloredurine
• urinating less than normal or not at all
• vision problems or eye pain
• vomiting

Less serious side effects of Avalide may include:

• cold symptoms like a stuffy nose or sore throat
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dry cough
• exhaustion
• heartburn
• headache
• muscle pain
• stomach pain

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Avalide. Youshould contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Avalide Description and Dosing

Avalide is available as 150/12.5 mg and 300/12.5 mg film-coated tablets. Both tablet strengthsare a peach color, biconvex and oval, with a heart debossed on one side and “2875” or “2876” onthe reverse side, respectively.

Consult with your doctor for specific dosing pertaining to you. Do not attempt to alter orchange your dose of Avalide without your physician’s consent.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Avalide you should seek emergency helpimmediately.

Ingredients in Avalide

Avalide is comprised of the main ingredients irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide. Otheringredients include lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium,hypromellose, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, ferric oxide red, ferric oxide yellow,polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, and carnauba wax.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.