Maxzide

Pronunciation: trye-AM-ter-een/HYE-droe-KLOR-oh-THYE-a-zide
Generic Name: Triamterene/Hydrochlorothiazide
Brand Name: Examples include Dyazide and Maxzide

Maxzide can increase potassium levels in your body. This is more likely to occur in elderly patients, patients who are severely ill, or patients with kidney problems and diabetes. If not treated, high potassium levels can be fatal. Potassium levels must be closely monitored, especially in people with any of these problems or illnesses. Lab tests will be required, so be sure to keep your appointments. If you develop burning, numbness, or tingling; muscle weakness; tiredness; or an irregular heartbeat, notify your doctor right away.

Maxzide is used for:

Treating fluid retention (edema) and high blood pressure in certain patients. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Maxzide is a diuretic (water pill), and is a combination of a potassium-sparing diuretic (triamterene) and a thiazide diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide). It works by making the kidneys eliminate sodium (salt) and water from the body, which helps to lower blood pressure. The triamterene component helps minimize potassium loss.

Do NOT use Maxzide if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Maxzide or any other sulfonamide (eg, sulfamethoxazole)


• you are unable to urinate, or you have severe kidney problems or high blood potassium


• you are taking another potassium-sparing diuretic (eg, amiloride, spironolactone), another medicine that contains triamterene, an aldosterone blocker (eg, eplerenone), a salt substitute containing potassium, or dofetilide

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Maxzide:

Some medical conditions may interact with Maxzide. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have cirrhosis or liver problems, diabetes, gout, kidney problems, heart failure, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)


• if you have dehydration, elevated blood acid, low folic acid levels, or blood electrolyte problems


• if you have a history of kidney stones or irregular heartbeat


• if you are on a low-salt (sodium) diet


• if you are also taking digoxin or another medicine for high blood pressure

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Maxzide. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Aldosterone blockers (eg, epleronone), potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, amiloride, spironolactone), potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium because high blood potassium levels may occur


• Amphotericin B, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), corticotrophin (ACTH), or chlorpropamide because the risk of blood electrolyte problems may be increased


• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, indomethacin) because they may decrease Maxzide's effectiveness and the risk of kidney problems may be increased


• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril) because the risk of high blood potassium and kidney problems may be increased by Maxzide


• Certain chemotherapy medicines or dofetilide because the risk of serious side effects may be increased by Maxzide


• Diazoxide, digoxin, or lithium because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Maxzide


• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) or methenamine because their effectiveness may be decreased by Maxzide

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Maxzide may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Maxzide:

Use Maxzide as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Maxzide by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.


• Maxzide may increase the amount of urine or cause you to urinate more often when you first start taking it. To keep this from disturbing your sleep, try to take your dose before 6 PM.


• If you take cholestyramine or colestipol, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to take it with Maxzide.


• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.


• If you miss a dose of Maxzide, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Maxzide.

Important safety information:

• Maxzide may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Maxzide with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Maxzide may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.


• Maxzide may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Maxzide. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.


• Maxzide has a sulfonamide called hydrochlorothiazide in it. Hydrochlorothiazide can cause certain eye problems (myopia, angle-closure glaucoma). Your risk may be increased if you are allergic to sulfonamide medicines (eg, sulfamethoxazole) or to penicillin antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin). Untreated angle-closure glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss. If these eye problems occur, symptoms usually occur within hours to weeks of starting Maxzide. Contact your doctor right away if you experience symptoms such as vision changes (eg, decreased vision clearness) or eye pain.


• If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, you will need to take care not to become dehydrated. Contact your doctor for instructions.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Maxzide before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Diabetes patients - Maxzide may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.


• Maxzide may raise your blood sugar. High blood sugar may make you feel confused, drowsy, or thirsty. It can also make you flush, breathe faster, or have a fruit-like breath odor. If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor right away.


• Maxzide may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Maxzide.


• Lab tests, including liver, kidney, or lung function; blood pressure; blood electrolyte levels (eg, potassium); and blood glucose levels, may be performed while you use Maxzide. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use Maxzide with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially high blood potassium levels.


• Maxzide should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Maxzide while you are pregnant. Maxzide is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Maxzide.

Possible side effects of Maxzide:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; dizziness or light-headedness when standing or sitting up; headache; loss of appetite; nausea.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); burning, numbness, or tingling; confusion; decreased urination; drowsiness; dry mouth; excessive thirst; eye pain; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; mental or mood changes; muscle cramps, pain, or weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; restlessness; seizures; severe or persistent dizziness; shortness or breath; sluggishness; stomach pain; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, increased thirst, hunger, or urination; drowsiness; flushing; rapid breathing; fruit-like breath odor); tiredness or weakness; tremor; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes (eg, decreased vision clearness); vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Maxzide side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased or excessive urination; fainting; fever; flushed face; light-headedness, especially when standing; nausea; severe dizziness; vomiting; weakness.

Proper storage of Maxzide:

Store Maxzide at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Maxzide out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Maxzide, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Maxzide is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Maxzide. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Maxzide resources

• Maxzide Side Effects (in more detail)
• Maxzide Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Maxzide Drug Interactions
• Maxzide Support Group
• 2 Reviews for Maxzide - Add your own review/rating

• Maxzide Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Maxzide Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Dyazide Consumer Overview


• Dyazide Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare Maxzide with other medications

• Edema
• High Blood Pressure