Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to either enalapril or hydrochlorothiazide; or to other ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril); or to other thiazides (e.g., polythiazide); or if you have any other allergies.
Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a history of an allergic reaction that included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), an inability to make urine.
Before using Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz), tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart problems (e.g., congestive heart failure), kidney problems (including renal artery stenosis and kidney dialysis), liver disease, gout, diabetes, untreated salt imbalance (e.g., high calcium, low potassium, low magnesium), loss of too much body water (dehydration), strokes, collagen vascular disease (e.g., lupus, scleroderma), recent nerve surgery (e.g., sympathectomy).
Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) may make you dizzy; use caution while engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.
Drink plenty of fluids while taking Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) to help prevent dizziness. Too much sweating, diarrhea or vomiting may cause you to feel lightheaded. Avoid heavy exercise. Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz).
Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
This product may increase or decrease your potassium levels. Before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you have diabetes, this product may increase your blood sugar levels. Check your blood glucose levels regularly as directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst and urination. Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted.
Caution is advised when using Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness.
Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. (See also Warning section.)
The enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide in Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) pass into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Store the US products at a temperature below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage up to 122 degrees F (50 degrees C) is permitted.
Store the Canadian product 59 to 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Take Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) by mouth with or without food, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. If you take Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) too close to bedtime, you may need to wake up to urinate. Therefore, it is best to take Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) at least 4 hours before your bedtime. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dosing schedule.
The dosage is based on your age, medical condition and response to therapy. If you have severe liver or kidney problems, your dosage may need to be adjusted.
Use Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. It is important to continue taking Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. It may take up to several weeks before the full benefit of Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) takes effect.
Do not stop taking Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) without first consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
Inform your doctor if your condition worsens (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase).
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Dizziness or lightheadedness may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. Nausea, tiredness, headache or dry cough may also occur. You may also experience decreased sexual ability or increased sensitivity to the sun. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) do not have serious side effects.
The hydrochlorothiazide in this product may cause too much body water and salts to be lost (dehydration). Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these unlikely but serious symptoms of dehydration: very dry mouth, thirst, muscle cramps, weakness, fast heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, severe dizziness, confusion, unusual decrease in the amount of urine, fainting, seizures.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: swelling of the hands/feet, irregular heartbeat, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, muscle/joint aches.
Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: yellowing of the eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent tiredness, persistent nausea/vomiting.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, unusual change in the amount of urine (not including the normal increase in urine when you first start Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz)).
A very serious allergic reaction to Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling of any part of the face/neck, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Click HERE to learn more about Vaseretic side effects.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
If you miss a dose of Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz), take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Also see Precautions. Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: dofetilide.
Before using Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz), tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: cisapride, anesthesia drugs, barbiturates including phenobarbital, drugs affecting the bone marrow (e.g., azathioprine, trimethoprim-containing products), drugs for diabetes (e.g., glyburide, insulin), aspirin, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs (e.g., celecoxib, ibuprofen, indomethacin), diazoxide, digoxin, guanethidine, lithium, mecamylamine, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine, morphine), probenecid, tubocurarine, drugs that may increase your potassium level (e.g., potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone, potassium supplements, salt substitutes, drospirenone), drugs that may decrease your potassium level (e.g., amphotericin B, corticotropin, corticosteroids including prednisone), other "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide), drugs whose removal from the body is affected by the acid level of urine (e.g., amphetamine, methenamine, quinidine).
A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking enalapril with hydrochlorothiazide. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using.
If taken together with Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz), cholestyramine and colestipol can decrease the amount of Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) that is absorbed by your body. If you are taking either of these drugs, separate them from Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz) by at least 4 hours.
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or cause a fast heartbeat (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, clemastine, ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
Some nonprescription medicines may also contain aspirin, which may decrease the effect of the enalapril in this product. If your doctor has directed you to take low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue to take the aspirin. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This product can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., parathyroid, certain tests that measure digoxin drug levels). Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use Vaseretic (enalapril/hctz).
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.