Side Effects

Tiredness, headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. Dry cough may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

This product may cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Tell your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, including: extreme thirst, very dry mouth, muscle cramps/weakness, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, confusion, decreased urination.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine), symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), fainting, decrease in vision, eye pain.

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage, such as: nausea/vomiting that doesn’t stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat/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.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Uses

This product is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.This product contains 2 medications: quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide. Quinapril belongs to a class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors and works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a class of drugs known as diuretics/”water pills.” It works by causing you to make more urine. This helps your body get rid of extra salt and water.

How to use Accuretic

• Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking quinapril/hydrochlorothiazide and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily in the morning. If you take this drug too close to bedtime, you may need to wake up to urinate. It is best to take this medication at least 4 hours before your bedtime.
• The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
• Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Keep taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.
• It may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of this product.
• This product contains magnesium which may interfere with the absorption of some medications. See the Drug Interactions section and consult your pharmacist for more information.
• If you also take certain drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take this product at least 4 hours before or at least 4 to 6 hours after these medications.
• Tell your doctor if your condition does not get better or if it gets worse (your blood pressure readings remain high or increase).

Warnings

Quinapril can cause serious (possibly fatal) harm to an unborn baby if used during pregnancy. It is important to prevent pregnancy while taking this product. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss the use of reliable forms of birth control while taking this product. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug are: aliskiren, dofetilide, lithium, gold injections, sacubitril, certain drugs that weaken the immune system/increase the risk of infection (such as everolimus, sirolimus), drugs that may increase the level of potassium in the blood (such as ARBs including losartan/valsartan, birth control pills containing drospirenone).

This product contains magnesium which can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb certain drugs, especially if you take them around the same time. These drugs include quinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), tetracycline antibiotics (such as doxycycline, minocycline), thyroid medications (such as levothyroxine), and drugs for osteoporosis (bisphosphonates such as alendronate). This is not a complete list. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long to wait between doses and when you should take your medications.

Some products have ingredients that could raise your blood pressure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen).

A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking quinapril/hydrochlorothiazide. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using.

This product may interfere with certain lab tests (such as parathyroid function), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this product.

Precautions

Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to either quinapril or hydrochlorothiazide; or to other ACE inhibitors (such as captopril, lisinopril); or to thiazides (such as chlorothiazide); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: history of an allergic reaction which included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), blood filtering procedures (such as LDL apheresis, dialysis), gout, kidney problems, liver disease, dehydration, untreated mineral imbalances (such as high or low potassium), lupus, skin cancer.

This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting can increase the risk for dehydration. Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids unless your doctor directs you otherwise.

This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. It may also increase your risk for skin cancer, especially if you take it for a long time. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor right away if you get sunburned, have skin blisters/redness, or notice new or changed moles/skin lesions.

This product may affect your potassium levels. Before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have diabetes, this product may affect your blood sugar. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially change in the amount of urine (kidney problems) and dizziness.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using this product. Quinapril may harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.

This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.