Dapa-Tabs (Indapamide Hemihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Dapa-Tabs Used For?
Dapa-Tabs contains indapamide hemihydrate and belongs to a group of medicines called chlorosulfamoyl diuretics, also known as ‘fluid’ or ‘water’ tablets.
Primary Uses
Dapa-Tabs is used either alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure occurs when your blood pressure stays higher than needed, even when you are calm and relaxed. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems including stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.
How It Works
Dapa-Tabs helps to lower blood pressure by working as a diuretic, which helps your body remove excess fluid and salt.
Good to know: There is no evidence that Dapa-Tabs is addictive.
How to Take Dapa-Tabs
Take Dapa-Tabs exactly as prescribed by your doctor to properly control your blood pressure.
Dosage Instructions
The usual adult dose is one tablet daily, taken in the morning at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. Dapa-Tabs can be taken with or without food. Keep taking Dapa-Tabs for as long as your doctor recommends – it must be taken every day to properly control your blood pressure.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If your next dose is less than 6 hours away, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
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:
- feeling sick or stomach upset
- vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- difficulty sleeping
- dizziness
- fainting
- muscle weakness or pain
- joint pain
- tingling or numbness of hands or feet
- headache
- gout
- feeling nervous or anxious
- kidney disease
- low blood pressure
- unusual heartbeat
- blurred or changed vision
- dry mouth
- erectile dysfunction
- increased sensitivity to light
- inflammation of pancreas
- abnormal liver function
- high levels of calcium in blood
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- skin rash, itching or hives
- swelling of face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- wheezing or shortness of breath
- purple spots with occasional blisters on arms, legs, neck or ears
- fast and irregular heartbeat
- severe blisters
- decrease in vision or eye pain
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Dapa-Tabs should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Dapa-Tabs
Do not take Dapa-Tabs if you are allergic to indapamide, sulfonamide or sulfa antibiotics, thiazide diuretics, or any ingredients in the tablets. Do not take if you have severe liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy, severe kidney problems such as anuria or progressive severe oliguria, low potassium levels in your blood, or if the medication is expired or tampered with.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: allergies to other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives; lactose intolerance; high or low levels of potassium, sodium, or salt balance problems; systemic lupus erythematosus; gout; diabetes; previous sun sensitivity reactions; heart rhythm problems; kidney or liver problems; vision problems or eye pain; muscle disorders; or if you’re planning parathyroid gland tests.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Dapa-Tabs if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. There is no information on its use in pregnancy, and medicines of this type have been associated with unwanted effects in unborn babies. It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk.
Athletes Warning: Athletes should be aware that this medicine contains an active ingredient which may give a positive reaction in doping tests.
Drug Interactions
Many medicines can interfere with Dapa-Tabs and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.
- lithium (mood disorder treatment)
- mental illness medications (epilepsy, anxiety, schizophrenia, antidepressants, antipsychotics)
- antimalarial medicines (chloroquine phosphate)
- blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors)
- other diuretics (amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene)
- heart rhythm medications (disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, flecainide)
- barbiturates and sleep medications
- Alzheimer’s medications (donepezil)
- pain relievers (NSAIDs, high-dose aspirin)
- corticosteroids
- strong pain killers
- calcium supplements
- stimulant laxatives
- muscle relaxants (baclofen)
- diabetes medications (metformin)
- immune system medications (ciclosporin, tacrolimus)
- antibiotics (amphotericin B, erythromycin, clarithromycin)
- antifungal medications (fluconazole)
- scan contrast agents
- antihistamines
- nausea medications (ondansetron, domperidone)
- cancer medications (vandetanib, oxaliplatin)
- gout medications (allopurinol)
- addiction treatment (methadone)
Alcohol & Driving
Dapa-Tabs can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol, so special precautions are needed.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Dapa-Tabs, as dizziness or light-headedness may be worse if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Dapa-Tabs affects you. This medicine may cause tiredness, dizziness, or light-headedness in some people. If any of these occur, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Temperature Regulation
Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather, especially if you sweat a lot. This will help you avoid dizziness or light-headedness caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure. Dapa-Tabs may cause your skin to become more sensitive to the sun – if this happens, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor.
Storage
Keep Dapa-Tabs in the original pack until it’s time to take them, as tablets removed from the pack will not keep well. Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above ground is recommended.
Overdose Information
If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Dapa-Tabs, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. An overdose may cause low blood pressure, sickness, cramps, sleepiness, confusion, kidney problems, and salt and water disturbances.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medication information doesn’t specify exact timing, but Dapa-Tabs must be taken every day to properly control blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your progress with regular check-ups.
Yes, Dapa-Tabs can be taken with or without food. Take it at about the same time each morning.
No, there is no evidence that Dapa-Tabs is addictive.
Do not stop taking Dapa-Tabs or change the dose without checking with your doctor first. To properly control your blood pressure, it must be taken every day as prescribed.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Dapa-Tabs, as dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Elderly people can generally take Dapa-Tabs safely. However, some elderly people have reduced kidney function, in which case additional care may be required.
If your next dose is less than 6 hours away, skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then continue with your normal schedule. Never take a double dose.
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.