Bendroflumethiazide helps to keep your blood pressure under control.
It is also used to treat water retention caused by heart failure, liver or kidney disease. Water retention may be noticed as swelling of the feet, ankles, lower leg and hands or shortness of breath. For this reason, it is commonly known as a "water pill".
Take Bendroflumethiazide exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Bendroflumethiazide may be taken with or without food. Try to take it at about the same time each day.
You will feel the urge to pass urine more often while being treated with Bendroflumethiazide. Take it early in the day, preferably in the morning, to avoid waking up frequently at night to go to the toilet.
Bendroflumethiazide must be taken regularly for it to work well. Continue taking Bendroflumethiazide even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by your doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you:
- have Addison's disease (a disorder of the adrenal glands)
- are allergic to sulfonamides (e.g. sulfa-containing antibiotic)
as Bendroflumethiazide may not be suitable for you.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- diabetes
- gout
- high cholesterol
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – autoimmune disease that causes inflammation
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you are going for an operation, including minor surgery and dental work, inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking Bendroflumethiazide.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medicine regularly. He may also need to do routine blood tests while you are being treated with Bendroflumethiazide.
What lifestyle changes can I make to improve my blood pressure?
Regular exercise and eating a healthy diet will help lower your blood pressure and improve your overall health. Engage in physical activity (e.g. walking) at least 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week. If you have not exercised for a long time, start with light exercises such as slow walks. Speak to your doctor about what type of exercise would be suitable for you. Follow a healthy diet plan by eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products and reduce your intake of foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Cutting down on deep-fried foods and using less salt when cooking can kick-start your healthy diet.
If you smoke, you should try to quit. Smoking is harmful to your blood pressure, heart and overall health. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to kick your smoking habit.
Bendroflumethiazide may cause weakness and dizziness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert. You may feel dizzy when getting up from a sitting or lying down position, especially if you are taking Bendroflumethiazide for the first time. This is normal and should improve as you get used to the medicine. It will help if you get up slowly.
You may need to pass urine more often while you are being treated with Bendroflumethiazide. As your body adjusts to the medicine, this urination effect should also decrease.
Bendroflumethiazide may also cause any of the following side effects: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, stomach bloating, thirst and sensitivity to sunlight. Apply sunscreen when going outdoors and avoid direct or prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV lamps.
Other side effects may be serious, although they are not common. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience:
- muscle cramps
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- rashes with skin peeling or blisters
- flu-like symptoms with chills
- frequent and persistent sore throat with fever or unusual bleeding or bruising
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for heart disease or high blood pressure e.g. digoxin, enalapril
- medicines for mood e.g. lithium
- medicines for diabetes e.g. glipizide
- corticosteroids (medicines for inflammation) e.g. prednisolone
- NSAIDs (medicines for pain and inflammation) e.g. indometacin
- allopurinol (medicine for gout)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Bendroflumethiazide.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicine, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Your doctor may give you potassium supplements while you are being treated with Bendroflumethiazide. Alternatively, he may tell you to eat more of foods that are high in potassium, such as orange juice, bananas or prunes.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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