What Is Amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide/olmesartan?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Olmesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.
Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan is a combination medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). This medication is usually given after others have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.
Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Do not take this medication if you are pregnant. Stop using the medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Olmesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.
If you have diabetes, do not use amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan together with any medication that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna).
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, or olmesartan, or if you have:
- severe kidney disease;
- if you are unable to urinate; or
- if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.
You may also need to avoid taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- liver disease;
- congestive heart failure;
- angina (chest pain), severe coronary artery disease;
- glaucoma;
- lupus;
- a penicillin allergy;
- if you are dehydrated; or
- if you are vomiting or having diarrhea.
It is not known whether amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking this medication.
Amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide/olmesartan Side Effects
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- eye pain, vision problems;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
- little or no urinating;
- severe or ongoing diarrhea with weight loss;
- pain or burning when you urinate;
- joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, unusual thoughts or behavior, patchy skin color, red spots, or skin rash on your face;
- trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, feeling unsteady, hallucinations, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing;
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; or
- electrolyte imbalance--nausea, loss of appetite, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, jerking muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling, confusion, and feeling tired or restless.
- dizziness, headache;
- mild diarrhea;
- muscle spasms, joint swelling; or
- cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.
Amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide/olmesartan Interactions
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.
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.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of this medication.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan, especially:
- lithium;
- heart medication, other diuretics, or other medications that lower blood pressure;
- insulin or oral diabetes medication;
- a barbiturate--butabarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital; cholesterol-lowering medicine--cholestyramine, colestipol, simvastatin; steroid medication--prednisone and others; or
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.
Amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide/olmesartan Dosage
Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and olmesartan may be taken with or without food.
You may have new or worsening chest pain when you first start taking this medicine, or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Conditions that may cause very low blood pressure include: vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, heart disease, dialysis, a low-salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are taking medication that contains hydrochlorothiazide. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
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.
