TRIAMIZIDE

Hydrochlorothiazide; triamterene 25mg/50mg Tablets

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about TRIAMIZIDE. It does not
contain all the information available on this medicine. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using TRIAMIZIDE against the
benefits expected it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using
this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.

What TRIAMIZIDE is used for and how it works

Your TRIAMIZIDE tablets contain the active ingredients hydrochlorothiazide
and triamterene. It is a combination of a diuretic and an antihypertensive.

TRIAMIZIDE is used to treat high blood pressure. It can also be used to
reduce fluid retention in people with heart, kidney or liver disease.

Your doctor may, however, prescribe TRIAMIZIDE for another reason. Ask your
doctor if you have any questions about why TRIAMIZIDE has been prescribed for
you.

There is no evidence that TRIAMIZIDE is addictive.

TRIAMIZIDE is available on prescription from your doctor.

Before you take TRIAMIZIDE

When you must not take it

Do not take TRIAMIZIDE if:

• You are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide; triamterene or any other
  ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
• You have kidney problems
• You have problems passing urine
• You have liver problems.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or
difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Before you take it

Tell your doctor:

• If you have a history of heart, liver or kidney problems
• If you have diabetes
• If you have any blood problems
• If you are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or are
  breastfeeding.

Taking other medicines

If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a
prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your doctor
or pharmacist.

Medicines that may interfere with TRIAMIZIDE include:

• Lithium
• Potassium sparing agents
• ACE inhibitors
• Chlorpropamide
• Indomethacin or other NSAID

These medicines may be affected by TRIAMIZIDE or may affect how well
TRIAMIZIDE works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may
need to take different medicines.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking TRIAMIZIDE.

How to take TRIAMIZIDE properly

How much to take

Your doctor will tell you how much TRIAMIZIDE you need to take each day. It
is important that you take TRIAMIZIDE as directed by your doctor. Do not take
more than the recommended dose.

• High blood pressure: The initial dose is one tablet per day, increasing to
  two tablets, if necessary to control blood pressure.
• Fluid retention: The usual initial dose is one or two tablets twice a day
  after meals.
• The maximum recommended dose is 4 tablets per day.
• The use of TRIAMIZIDE is not recommended for use in children.

How long to take it

TRIAMIZIDE helps to control your condition but does not cure it. Therefore
TRIAMIZIDE must be taken everyday. Continue taking TRIAMIZIDE for as long as
your doctor tells you to.

If you forget a dose

If you forget a dose, just take the next dose when it is due. Do not take
more than one dose at a time to make up for missed doses.

Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to
take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask
you pharmacist for some hints.

While you are taking TRIAMIZIDE

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
taking TRIAMIZIDE.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking TRIAMIZIDE before you
start any new medicine.

Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant
while taking TRIAMIZIDE.

If you are going to have a surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you
are taking TRIAMIZIDE.

If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are
taking TRIAMIZIDE.

Do not take TRIAMIZIDE to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells
you to.

Do not stop taking TRIAMIZIDE or lower the dose without first checking with
your doctor.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar
to yours.

TRIAMIZIDE may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people. Be careful when
driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until
you are certain that TRIAMIZIDE does not affect your performance.

Side effects

Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking TRIAMIZIDE.

All medicines can have some unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious,
most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of
the side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:

• Muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness
• Headaches, dry mouth
• Rash, unusual reddening and itching of skin
• Light sensitivity
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation
• Irregular heart beat.

These are the more common side effects of TRIAMIZIDE.

Tell your doctor immediately if you experience:

• Kidney problems
• Unusual bruising or bleeding under the skin.

These side effects are rare but serious. You may need urgent medical
attention.

The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should
suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.

In case of overdose

You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.

Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre
(0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest
hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has
taken any TRIAMIZIDE by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of
discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the
container of TRIAMIZIDE with you if you can.

Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.

Storage conditions

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label or if the
packaging shows signs of tampering.

Keep your TRIAMIZIDE tablets in the container until it is time to take them.

Store below 25°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light
and moisture.

Do not store TRIAMIZIDE, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a
sink.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking TRIAMIZIDE or if the tablets have
passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining
medicine.

Product Description

What TRIAMIZIDE tablets look like

TRIAMIZIDE tablets are peach coloured, round tablets. Marked on one side with
"T50/H25".

Ingredients

Each TRIAMIZIDE tablet contains the active ingredients, hydrochlorothiazide
and triamterene.

Each TRIAMIZIDE tablet also contains lactose hydrous, maize starch,
erythrosine lake, quinoline yellow lake, water potable, talc, primojel and
magnesium stearate.