Reserpine, Hydralazine, and Hydrochlorothiazide, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: reserpine, hydralazine, and hydrochlorothiazide, oral; Hydrap-ES; Marpres; Ser-Ap-Es; Tri-Hydroserpine

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a combination product taken by mouth to treat and control high blood pressure. It contains a diuretic to remove excess water from your body.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine regularly every day as your health care provider prescribes.

This medicine may increase the amount and frequency of urination. Take the last dose of the day before 6 PM to avoid interrupting your sleep at night.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If this medicine makes you feel depressed, contact your health care provider.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and certain other medicines. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your health care provider approves.

This medicine may drive potassium (a vital mineral) from your body. Your health care provider may prescribe a potassium-rich diet or a potassium supplement for you to take every day.

Your health care provider may want you to have blood tests regularly to check your potassium levels. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Chest pain, depression, black tarry stools, headache, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat.

Other: Dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, loss of appetite.

Important notice: Many other side effects have been reported. Contact your health care provider right away if you develop any ill effects.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), amobarbital (Amytal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal)
• narcotics such as codeine, morphine, meperidine (Demerol), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• other medicines to lower your blood pressure (Talk with your health care provider about these.)
• quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Quinaglute)
• sedatives such as flurazepam (Dalmane) and quazepam (Doral).

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.