How to Use

In addition to the use of the drug your family doctor has prescribed, treat for your high blood pressure may include weight control and care in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your family doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You must check with your family doctor before changing your diet.

Many diseaseds who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. The best for you that you take your drug exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your family doctor even if you feel well.

Remember that this drug will not cure your high blood pressure but it does help control it. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down You may have to take high blood pressure drug for the rest of your life . If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

For diseaseds taking the extended-release tablet form of this drug:

• Swallow the tablet whole.
• Do not crush, break, or chew before swallowing.

To help you remember to take your drug, try to get into the habit of taking it at the same time each day.

Ask your family doctor about checking your pulse rate before and after taking beta-blocking agents. Then, while you are taking this drug, check your pulse regularly. If it is much slower than your usual rate - or less than 50 beats per minute, check with your family doctor. A pulse rate that is too slow may cause circulation problems.

The thiazide diuretic - bendroflumethiazide, chlorthalidone, or hydrochlorothiazide contained in this combination drug may cause you to have an unusual feeling of tiredness when you begin to take it. You may also notice an increase in the amount of urine or in your frequency of urination. After you take the drug for a while, these effects must lessen. To keep the increase in urine from effecting your sleep:

• If you are to take a single dose a day, take it in the morning after breakfast.
• If you are to take more than one dose a day, take the last dose no later than 6 p.m., unless otherwise directed by your family doctor.

However, it is best to plan your dose or doses according to a schedule that will least effect your personal activities and sleep. Ask your health care professional to help you plan the best time to take this drug.

Do not miss any doses . This is especially important when you are taking only one dose per day. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is not taken regularly.

Dosage

The number of capsules or tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug.

For atenolol and chlorthalidone combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 or 2 tablets once a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 or 2 tablets once a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 or 2 tablets a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For nadolol and bendroflumethiazide combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 tablet once a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For pindolol and hydrochlorothiazide combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 or 2 tablets once a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide combination
• For regular - short-acting oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 or 2 tablets two times a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For long-acting oral dosage form - capsules:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 capsule a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For timolol and hydrochlorothiazide combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults 1 tablet two times a day or 2 tablets once a day.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your family doctor.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is within 4 hours of your next dose - 8 hours if you are using atenolol and chlorthalidone, bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide, nadolol and bendroflumethiazide, or extended-release propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.