PatientsLikeMe ™

Back to Treatment Report

What is bisoprolol-hydrochlorothiazide?

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Bisoprolol is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).

The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

Instructions

Side-effects

Interactions

Precautions

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide or bisoprolol, or if you have:

• severe or uncontrolled heart failure;
• a heart condition called "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (2nd or 3rd degree);
• if you are unable to urinate;
• if you are allergic to sulfa drugs; or
• if you are allergic to any beta-blocker medication, such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others.

Before using hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• congestive heart failure;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease (or cirrhosis);
• bronchospastic lung disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• blood circulation problems;
• lupus;
• gout; or
• diabetes.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can lower your blood pressure and may add to the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol.

Avoid using other medicines that make you light-headed (especially narcotic pain medication or barbiturates). They can add to the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Back to top

Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include fast or slow heart rate, confusion, weakness, shallow breathing, swelling, increased urination, and feeling like you might pass out.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Back to top

Side-effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
• fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat;
• chest pain;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, problems with vision or speech, chest pain, or pain in one or both legs;
• numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;
• feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
• nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, extreme thirst, headache, confusion, hallucinations, seizure (convulsions);
• increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle pain or weakness or limp feeling;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
• upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach;
• headache, tired feeling;
• dizziness, spinning sensation;
• cough, runny nose;
• ringing in your ears; or
• blurred vision.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Back to top

Interactions

Many drugs can interact with hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• insulin or diabetes medicine you take by mouth;
• colestipol (Colestid) or cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);
• steroids (prednisone and others);
• lithium (Lithobid);
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rimactane);
• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others;
• other heart or blood pressure medications such as clonidine (Catapres), guanethidine (Ismelin), or reserpine; or
• a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Back to top

Disclaimer