Losartan controls high blood pressure (hypertension) by relaxing blood vessels.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic.
High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. By lowering blood pressure, losartan-hydrochlorothiazide can help reduce your risk of having damage to your kidneys, heart, or other organs.

Generic Hyzaar does not cure high blood pressure. It only keeps it under control.

Hydrochlorothiazide is known as a thiazide diuretic. Thiazide diuretics act in the kidney to remove water from the blood into the urine, by causing an increase in the removal of salts such as potassium and sodium from the blood. This removal of salts causes water to be drawn out of the blood and into the kidneys, where it is then excreted in the urine.

Removing water from the blood decreases the volume of fluid circulating through the blood vessels. The drop in fluid volume results in a drop in the pressure of the fluid within the blood vessels, which helps to lower high blood pressure. It also decreases the effort required by the heart to pump blood around the body.

Losartan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists and is used in the treatment of high blood pressure. Angiotensin II is a chemical in the body which causes the narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction). This can cause high blood pressure. Losartan reduces blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotensin II.

The combination of these two medicines is particularly useful in treating high blood pressure.

ADULTS
Generic Hyzaar comes in two strengths, 50-12.5 (50 milligrams of losartan and 12.5 milligrams of hydrochlorothiazide) and 100-12.5 .The usual starting dose is one 50-12.5 tablet per day.

If your blood pressure does not respond to this dose, after about 3 weeks the doctor may increase the dose of Generic Hyzaar.

CHILDREN
The safety and effectiveness of Generic Hyzaar in children have not been studied.

If you miss a Generic Hyzaar dose
Take the missed dose of Generic Hyzaar as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule.
Do not take double doses of Generic Hyzaar at a time.

Generic Hyzaar Overdose
No specific information is available on the treatment of overdose with Generic Hyzaar (losartan potassium and hydrochlorothiazide).
Treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

Losartan
Limited data is available in regard to overdose in humans. The most likely manifestation of Losartan overdose would be hypotension and tachycardia. If symptomatic hypotension should occur, supportive treatment should be instituted.
Neither losartan nor its active metabolite can be removed by hemodialysis.

Hydrochlorothiazide
The most common signs and symptoms observed are those caused by electrolyte depletion (hypokalemia, hypochloremia, hyponatremia) and dehydration resulting from excessive diuresis. If digitalis has also been administered, hypokalemia may accentuate cardiac arrhythmias.
The degree to which hydrochlorothiazide is removed by hemodialysis has not been established.

Generic Hyzaar Storage instructions
Keep Generic Hyzaar out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Generic Hyzaar Preparations:
Generic Hyzaar Tablets- Losartan 100mg+ Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg
Losartan 50mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg

The drugs that interact with Generic Hyzaar include

• allopurinol
• antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
• blood pressure medicines
• bosentan
• delavirdine
• diabetic medications
• dofetilide
• fluconazole
• griseofulvin
• hawthorn or horse chestnut
• lithium
• potassium salts or potassium supplements
• prochlorperazine
• rifampin
• some antibiotics which increase sensitivity to sunlight (sulfonamides, tetracyclines)
• some cholesterol-lowering medications (e.g. cholestyramine or colestipol)
• some medicines for mental disorders (phenothiazines)
• vitamin A (retinol) creams or pills such as tretinoin Retin-A®, Renova®, and others
• voriconazole
• water pills (especially potassium-sparing diuretics such as triamterene or amiloride)

Tell your health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way Generic Hyzaar works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

Generic Hyzaar precautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
When pregnancy is detected, Generic Hyzaar should be discontinued as soon as possible.
The use of Generic Hyzaar during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy has been associated with fetal and neonatal injury, including hypotension, neonatal skull hypoplasia, anuria, reversible or irreversible renal failure, and death.
Prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation have also been reported.
These adverse effects do not appear to have resulted from intrauterine drug exposure that has been limited to the first trimester.

It is not known whether Generic Hyzaar is excreted in human milk, however significant levels of both the compounds have been shown to be present in the milk of lactating rats. A decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of Generic Hyzaar to the mother.

Special warnings about Generic Hyzaar
Check your blood pressure regularly while you are taking Generic Hyzaar. Ask your health care professional what your blood pressure should be and when you should contact him or her. When you check your blood pressure, write down the measurements to show your health care professional. You must not get dehydrated. Ask your health care professional how much fluid you need to drink a day. If you are taking Generic Hyzaar for a long time, you must visit your health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Make sure you schedule appointments on a regular basis.

Check with your health care professional if you get an attack of severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, or if you sweat a lot. The loss of too much body fluid can make it dangerous for you to take Generic Hyzaar.

You may get dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires mental alertness until you know how Generic Hyzaar affects you. To avoid dizzy or fainting spells, do not stand or sit up quickly. Alcohol may increase the possibility of dizziness. Avoid alcoholic drinks until you have discussed their use with your health care professional.

If you are going to have surgery tell your health care professional that you are taking Generic Hyzaar.

Generic Hyzaar may affect your blood sugar level. If you have diabetes, check with your health care professional before changing the dose of your diabetic medicine.

Avoid salt substitutes unless you are told otherwise by your health care professional. Do not take medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems without asking your health care professional.

Do not treat yourself for a fever or sore throat; check with your health care professional first.

As diuretics cause your kidneys to produce more urine, you may prefer to take Generic Hyzaar in the morning rather than before going to bed, as this will reduce the likelihood of you needing to get up in the night to visit the toilet. Seek further advice from your health care professional.

Why Generic Hyzaar should not be prescribed?
Do not take Generic Hyzaar:

• If you are allergic to any of its components
• If you are allergic to any sulfonamide-derived drugs
• If you are not passing urine

More common side effects of Generic Hyzaar may include:

• confusion
• dizziness
• upper respiratory tract infection

Less common side effects of Generic Hyzaar may include:

• difficulty breathing,
• difficulty swallowing,
• hoarseness, or tightening of the throat
• redness,
• blistering,
• peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, hands, or feet
• unusual rash, bleeding or bruising, or pinpoint red spots on the skin
• lightheadedness or fainting spells
• decreased amount of urine passed
• decreased sexual function
• fast or uneven heart beat, palpitations, or chest pain
• fever or chills
• muscle cramps
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• worsened gout pain
• yellowing of the eyes or skin