1 May 2026Oral drugs
Hydrochlorothiazide oral
Hydrochlorothiazide guidance for hypertension and edema, with electrolyte and pregnancy contraindications.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Thiazide diuretic.
Indications
- Hypertension.
- Oedema associated with renal, hepatic or congestive heart failure.
Forms and strengths
- 12.5 mg and 25 mg tablets.
Dose
Hypertension
- Adult: 12.5 to 25 mg once daily in the morning, maximum 25 mg daily.
Oedema associated with renal, hepatic or congestive heart failure
- Adult: 25 mg once daily in the morning or 25 mg 2 times daily, maximum 100 mg daily.
Duration
According to clinical response.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with severe renal failure.
- Administer with caution in patients with hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, and in elderly patients.
- May cause dehydration, hypotension, hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, dizziness, skin rash, impotence, and photosensitivity.
- Avoid or monitor combination with NSAIDs and lithium.
- Monitor combination with drugs that provoke hypotension, potassium-depleting drugs, sodium-depleting drugs, drugs enhancing hypercalcaemic effect, oral antidiabetics, and insulin.
- Pregnancy: contraindicated.
- Breast-feeding: contraindicated.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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