Which is safer chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide?

HCTZ and chlorthalidone are both safe and cheap first-line blood pressure medications, but the evidence is clear—chlorthalidone is better.

Which has less side effects hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone?

Chlorthalidone, the guideline-recommended diuretic for lowering blood pressure, causes more serious side effects than hydrochlorothiazide, a similarly effective diuretic, according to a new study led by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Is chlorthalidone safer than hydrochlorothiazide?

The researchers found that patients taking chlorthalidone had nearly three times the risk of developing dangerously low levels of potassium and a greater risk of other electrolyte imbalances and kidney problems compared with those taking hydrochlorothiazide.

Which diuretic has the least side effects?

The main diuretic used today is hydrochlorothiazide, or HCTZ, which has fewer side effects than chlorthalidone, the diuretic used in this study.

Which diuretic is the safest?

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients taking a common diuretic to help lower blood pressure may be better off with a similarly effective but safer one, a new study suggests. Current guidelines recommend the drug chlorthalidone (Thalitone) as the first-line diuretic.

Is chlorthalidone safe for kidneys?

Chlorthalidone increased the risk of the following side effects when compared to hydrochlorothiazide: Low potassium levels (hypokalemia), nearly three times greater risk. Low sodium levels (hyponatremia), 31 percent greater risk. Acute kidney failure, 37 percent greater risk.

What's the difference between hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone?

There are significant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between these diuretics. Chlorthalidone is ≈1.5 to 2.0 times as potent as hydrochlorothiazide, and the former has a much longer duration of action. Whether these pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic features cause differences in outcomes is not known.

Is there a better diuretic than hydrochlorothiazide?

Chlorthalidone lowers the risk of cardiovascular events about 18% more than HCTZ at the same achieved blood pressure.

What is a good substitute for hydrochlorothiazide?

Chlorthalidone is often offered as an alternative to HCTZ, but has limited pharmaceutical formulations.

What is the safest hypertension medication?

Methyldopa, which works to lower blood pressure through the central nervous system, has the lowest risk of harming the mother and developing fetus. Other possible safe options include labetalol, beta-blockers, and diuretics.

What are the side effects of chlorthalidone?

Chlorthalidone side effects

• nausea.
• vomiting.
• stomach cramping.
• diarrhea.
• constipation.
• loss of appetite.
• dizziness.
• headache.

What can be substituted for chlorthalidone?

Indapamide, an alternative to chlorthalidone, has both a low-dose option available (1.25 mg) and a fixed-dose combination with an ACE inhibitor (perindopril).

Is hydrochlorothiazide hard on your kidneys?

Hydrochlorothiazide can aggravate kidney dysfunction and is used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Hydrochlorothiazide can lower blood potassium, sodium, and magnesium levels.

Why is chlorthalidone preferred?

Hydrochlorothiazide is the most commonly prescribed member of the class, but the guideline states that chlorthalidone is preferred on the basis of longer half-life and proven trial reduction of cardiovascular disease.

What is the difference between chlorthalidone and amlodipine?

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker which relaxes blood vessels and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Chlorthalidone is a diuretic which removes extra water and certain electrolytes from the body by increasing the amount of urine produced.

Is chlorthalidone a good blood pressure medication?

Chlorthalidone is a good blood pressure treatment for people who haven't responded well to other thiazide diuretics. It works especially well for Black people. Lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. Good option if you have both high blood pressure and heart failure.

Can you take hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone together?

No interactions were found between chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Why is hydrochlorothiazide being recalled?

Pfizer has issued a voluntarily recall of certain lots of quinapril HCl/hydrochlorothiazide tablets and additional lots distributed by Greenstone due to high levels of a nitrosamine known to be carcinogenic in high doses.

Does chlorthalidone cause erectile dysfunction?

All blood pressure medications can cause erectile dysfunction, but “diuretics” (or “water pills”) are the most likely to do so. Here are some blood pressure medications that commonly cause ED: Thiazide diuretics like chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide.

Does chlorthalidone reduce potassium?

The report in JAMA Internal Medicine details how patients prescribed chlorthalidone had nearly three times the risk of developing dangerously low levels of potassium and a greater risk of other electrolyte imbalances and kidney problems, as opposed to those taking hydrochlorothiazide.

What happens when you stop taking chlorthalidone?

Stopping this medication suddenly can cause nervousness, anxiety, severe high blood pressure, or life-threatening symptoms. You will need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.

What kind of diuretic is chlorthalidone?

Chlorthalidone is a medication used in the management and treatment of hypertension. It is in the thiazide-like diuretics class of drugs. This activity reviews the indications, action, and contraindications for chlorthalidone as a valuable agent in managing hypertension, edema, and calcium nephrolithiasis.

Is hydrochlorothiazide a good blood pressure medication?

Hydrochlorothiazide is used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly.

What is the best water pill for high blood pressure?

One of the most commonly prescribed thiazide-like diuretics is chlorthalidone. Studies show that it may be the best diuretic to control blood pressure and prevent death.

Can chlorthalidone cause joint pain?

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Thalitone including: fainting, toe or joint pain, or. changes in the amount of urine (not including the normal increase in urine when you first start this drug).