Atacand HCT

Generic Name: hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan (HYE droe KLOR oh THYE a zide and KAN de SAR tan)

Brand Names: Atacand HCT

What is Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan)?

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

Candesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Candesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

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

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

What is the most important information I should know about Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan)?

Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to candesartan or hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if you are unable to urinate.

Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, congestive heart failure, glaucoma, low or high levels of potassium in your blood, asthma or allergies, high cholesterol or triglycerides, gout, lupus, diabetes, or an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.

Hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to candesartan or hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others), or if you are unable to urinate.

To make sure you can safely take hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;


• liver disease;


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  congestive heart failure;

  
  


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  glaucoma;

  
  


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  low or high levels of potassium in your blood;

  
  


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  asthma or allergies;

  
  


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  high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);

  
  


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  gout;

  
  


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  lupus;

  
  


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  diabetes; or

  
  


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  an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan. It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan)?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your blood and urine may also be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated. Visit your doctor regularly.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.

Hydrochlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medication.

It may take up to 4 weeks for this medication to control your blood pressure. Keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include fast or slow heartbeat, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan)?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan.

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.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan) 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. In rare cases, hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine. Call your doctor at once if you have any other serious side effect, such as:

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  eye pain, vision problems;

  
  


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  feeling like you might pass out;

  
  


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  chest pain, feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

  
  


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  fever;

  
  


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  swelling, rapid weight gain;

  
  


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  urinating less than usual or not at all;

  
  


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  jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

  
  


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  dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, restless feeling, confusion, increased urination, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  stomach pain;

  
  


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  back pain;

  
  


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  dizziness, drowsiness;

  
  


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  headache;

  
  


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  runny or stuffy nose, sore throat; or

  
  


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  dry cough.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Atacand HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan)?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  other diuretics (water pills) or blood pressure medications;

  
  


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  steroids (prednisone and others);

  
  


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  lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

  
  


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  cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

  
  


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  insulin or diabetes medicine you take by mouth;

  
  


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  a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);

  
  


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  aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others;

  
  


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  a muscle relaxer such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), metaxalone (Skelaxin), or methocarbamol (Robaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), or tizanidine (Zanaflex); or

  
  


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  a narcotic medication such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Methadose), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), and others.

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Atacand HCT resources

• Atacand HCT Side Effects (in more detail)
• Atacand HCT Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Atacand HCT Drug Interactions
• Atacand HCT Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Atacand HCT - Add your own review/rating

• Atacand HCT Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Atacand HCT Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Atacand HCT MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Atacand HCT with other medications

• High Blood Pressure

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrochlorothiazide and candesartan.

See also: Atacand HCT side effects (in more detail)