Avapro HCT (Irbesartan And Hydrochlorothiazide)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Avapro HCT Used For?
Avapro HCT is a combination blood pressure medication that contains two active ingredients working together to lower high blood pressure effectively.
Primary Uses
Avapro HCT is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s typically prescribed when previous single-medication treatment hasn’t produced sufficient blood pressure reduction.
How It Works
This medication works in two ways: Irbesartan blocks a substance called angiotensin-II that narrows blood vessels, helping them widen and making it easier for your heart to pump blood. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that increases urine production and helps lower blood pressure, especially when combined with other blood pressure medications.
Good to know: The full blood pressure lowering effect should be reached 6 to 8 weeks after beginning treatment.
How to Take Avapro HCT
Your doctor will determine the right dose for you and provide specific instructions on how to switch from any previous blood pressure treatment.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is one tablet once daily. Take Avapro HCT at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. It doesn’t matter whether you take it before or after food. Continue taking until your doctor tells you to stop. The tablets come in a calendar pack to help you remember to take them daily.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and return to your normal schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose, and don’t stop taking or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Unusual tiredness or fatigue
- Stomach or gut pain
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Sexual problems
- Low blood glucose levels
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Severe sudden onset of pinkish, itchy skin swellings (hives)
- Skin rash or itchiness
- Muscle aching, pain, or weakness
- Abdominal swelling with pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Buzzing or ringing in ears
- Heart rhythm changes
- Reduced urination
- Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
- Painful, swollen joints (gout symptoms)
- Fainting
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Vision disturbances and eye pain
- Diabetes symptoms (excessive thirst, increased urination)
- Kidney disease symptoms
- High potassium symptoms
- Yellowing of skin/eyes (jaundice)
- Liver disease symptoms
- Acute breathing problems
Important Warnings
There are several important situations where Avapro HCT should not be used, and medical conditions that require careful monitoring.
Who Should Not Take Avapro HCT
Don’t take if you’re allergic to irbesartan, hydrochlorothiazide, sulfonamide medicines, or any ingredients. Don’t use if you’re pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Avoid if you have diabetes or kidney problems and are taking ACE inhibitors or aliskiren-containing medicines. Don’t use if you’re not producing urine.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: kidney problems, heart or liver problems, diabetes, gout, lupus, electrolyte imbalances, primary aldosteronism, strict salt restriction, history of sympathectomy, current diuretic use, skin cancer history, surgery planned, allergies, vision problems, or breathing/lung problems from previous hydrochlorothiazide use.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Avapro HCT if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication.
Skin Cancer Risk: Long-term use with high doses may increase risk of some types of skin and lip cancer. Protect your skin from sun exposure and UV rays while taking Avapro HCT.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with Avapro HCT and affect how it works. Always tell your healthcare providers about all medicines you’re taking.
Kidney Risk: Taking Avapro HCT with anti-inflammatory medicines may damage your kidneys and reduce blood pressure lowering effects.
- Other blood pressure medicines
- Other diuretics
- Lithium or lithium-containing medicines
- Potassium tablets and potassium-containing salt tablets
- NSAIDs (diclofenac, ibuprofen) and COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib)
- Diabetes medicines like repaglinide
- Calcium supplements or medicines containing calcium
- Vitamin D medicines
- Gout medicines
- Cholesterol-reducing powders (cholestyramine, colestipol)
- Heart medicines (digoxin, sotalol)
- Corticosteroids (prednisone, cortisone, ACTH)
- Cancer medicines
- Parkinson’s disease medicines (amantadine, anticholinergics)
- Carbamazepine for convulsions
- Surgery and emergency medicines
Alcohol & Driving
Avapro HCT can affect your ability to drive safely and may interact with alcohol to worsen certain side effects.
Alcohol
If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Avapro HCT affects you. This medication may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive. Make sure you know how you react before driving or doing anything that could be dangerous.
Temperature Regulation
Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water while taking Avapro HCT, you may faint or feel light-headed or sick due to low blood pressure and insufficient body fluid.
Storage
Keep Avapro HCT tablets in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store away from moisture, heat, or sunlight – don’t store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on windowsills. Don’t use after the expiry date and keep away from children.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Avapro HCT, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine. Taking too many tablets will likely cause light-headedness or dizziness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full blood pressure lowering effect should be reached 6 to 8 weeks after beginning treatment.
Yes, it doesn’t matter whether you take Avapro HCT tablets before or after food. Just swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
Do not stop taking Avapro HCT or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Continue taking it until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol so they can monitor you appropriately.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose.
Yes, make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water, you may faint or feel light-headed due to low blood pressure.
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, as this medication can affect blood glucose levels and may interact with diabetes medicines. Special monitoring may be needed.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.