Rauwolfia Alkaloids and Thiazide Diuretics : Before Using

Rauwolfia Alkaloids and Thiazide Diuretics - Systemic

Rauwolfia Alkaloids and Thiazide Diuretics *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For rauwolfia alkaloids and thiazide diuretics, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to sulfonamides - sulfa drugs, thiazide diuretics - water pills, or rauwolfia alkaloids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substance, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Too much use of thiazide diuretics - contained in this combination drug during pregnancy may cause unwanted effects including jaundice, blood problems and low potassium in the baby. Too much use of rauwolfia alkaloids may cause difficult breathing, low temperature and loss of appetite in the baby. This drug has not been shown to cause birth defects. In rats, use of rauwolfia alkaloids during pregnancy decreases newborn survival rates. Be sure that you have discussed this with your family doctor before taking this drug.

Breast-feeding problem

Rauwolfia alkaloids pass into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects - difficult breathing, low temperature, loss of appetite in infants of mothers taking it in large doses. Thiazide diuretics also pass into breast milk. Be sure you have discussed this with your family doctor before taking this drug.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of these medication in child with use in other age groups, these medication are not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than they do in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. Although there is no special info comparing use of rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combinations in the elderly with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in younger adults. However, drowsiness, dizziness, or faintness or symptoms of too much potassium loss may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are more sensitive to the effects of rauwolfia alkaloids and thiazide diuretics.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking rauwolfia alkaloids and thiazide diuretics, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Cholestyramine
Colestipol Use with thiazide diuretics may prevent the diuretic from help you; take the diuretic at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after cholestyramine or colestipol

Digitalis glycosides - heart drug Thiazide diuretics may cause low potassium in the blood, which can lead to symptoms of digitalis toxicity

Lithium - Lithane chance of lithium overdose, even at usual doses, may be increased

Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", selegiline " Eldepryl ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " Taking a rauwolfia alkaloid while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may increase the risk of central nervous system depression or may cause a severe high blood pressure reaction

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of rauwolfia alkaloids and thiazide diuretics. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Allergies or other breathing problems such as asthma Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause breathing problems

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes Thiazide diuretics may change the amount of diabetes drug needed

Epilepsy

Gallstones
Stomach ulcer
Ulcerative colitis Rauwolfia alkaloids increase activity of the stomach, which may make the condition worse

Gout - history of Thiazide diuretics may increase the amount of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout

Heart disease Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause heart rhythm problems or slow heartbeat

Kidney disease Some diseaseds may not do well when blood pressure is lowered by this drug. If kidney disease is severe, thiazide diuretics may not work

Liver disease If thiazide diuretics cause loss of too much water from the body, liver disease can become much worse

Lupus erythematosus - history of Thiazide diuretics may worsen the condition

Mental depression - or history of Rauwolfia alkaloids cause mental depression

Pancreatitis - inflammation of pancreas

Parkinson's disease Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause parkinsonism-like effects

Pheochromocytoma