Drug Name

Lozol (Indapamide)

Drug Uses

Lozol is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It also is used to eliminate fluid when the body accumulates excess fluid, such as with edema and congestive heart failure.

How Taken

Lozol is taken as a single daily dose, generally in the morning before breakfast. It can be taken with or without food. Antacids have no effect on the activity of Lozol.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Lozol is a diuretic (water pill) that is primarily used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It works by preventing the kidney from reabsorbing (retaining in the body) salt and water that is destined to be eliminated in the urine. This results in increased urine output (diuresis). Lozol also is thought to reduce the salt in the smooth muscle of the walls of blood vessels. (The salt ultimately is eliminated in the urine.) The loss of salt from the muscle causes the muscle to relax, and the relaxation of the vessels results in reduced blood pressure.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

Storage

Lozol should be stored between 15 degrees C (59 degrees F) and 30 degrees C (86 degrees F).

Warnings/Precautions

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to this medicine or to any other sulfonamide medicine (such as Septra DS, Bactrim DS, Gantrisin, glyburide, or probenecid), contact your doctor before taking this medicine. A severe reaction includes a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness. If you have a question about whether you are allergic to this medicine or if a certain medicine is a sulfonamide, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may have also prescribed a potassium supplement for you. If so, follow the dosing carefully. Do not start taking additional potassium on your own or change your diet to include more potassium without first checking with your doctor. This medicine may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. For women: it is unknown if this medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Possible Side Effects

Dehydration may occur during lozol therapy. Hypokalemia (low blood potassium due to elimination of potassium in the urine) is one of the most common adverse effects associated with the thiazide class of diuretics and may cause abnormal cardiac rhythms. The most common symptom associated with hypokalemia is muscle weakness. Patients receiving lozol may need potassium supplements to prevent hypokalemia. Hypomagnesemia (low blood magnesium) also may occur. Other possible side effects include excessive loss of sodium (particularly of concern in elderly patients), increased cholesterol (this effect tends to diminish with continued use), increased uric acid concentrations in the blood, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, blurred vision, tingling of the extremities, nervousness, impotence, rash, photosensitivity (skin rashes due to sunlight), fatigue, irritability, and agitation.

More Information

Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. If using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.