Dapa-Tabs (Indapamide Hemihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Quick 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.
Good to know: There is no evidence that Dapa-Tabs is addictive.
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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.
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
- muscle weakness or pain
- joint pain
- tingling or numbness of hands or feet
- headache
- gout
- feeling nervous or anxious
- kidney problems
- 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 blisters on arms, legs, neck or ears
- fast and irregular heartbeat
- severe blisters
- decrease in vision or eye pain
- severe allergic reactions
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
Important Warnings
There are important safety considerations before taking Dapa-Tabs.
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 medicine. Do not take if you have severe liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy, severe kidney problems such as anuria or progressive oliguria, low potassium levels in your blood, or if the medicine is expired or tampered with.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have high or low levels of potassium/sodium, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, diabetes, previous sun sensitivity reactions, heart rhythm problems, kidney or liver problems, muscle disorders, or if you experience vision changes or eye pain. Also inform your doctor if you have lactose intolerance or are 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 safety information for use during pregnancy, and it is not known if the medicine passes into breast milk.
Athletes: This medicine contains an active ingredient which may give a positive reaction in doping tests.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Dapa-Tabs and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.
- lithium (mood disorder treatment)
- mental health medicines (antidepressants, antipsychotics, epilepsy medicines)
- antimalarial medicines (chloroquine phosphate)
- blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors)
- other diuretics (water tablets)
- heart rhythm medicines
- barbiturates (sleep/epilepsy medicines)
- Alzheimer's medicines (donepezil)
- pain relievers (NSAIDs, high-dose aspirin)
- corticosteroids
- strong pain killers
- calcium supplements
- stimulant laxatives
- muscle relaxants (baclofen)
- diabetes medicines (metformin)
- immune system medicines (ciclosporin, tacrolimus)
- antibiotics (amphotericin B, erythromycin, clarithromycin)
- antifungal medicines (fluconazole)
- contrast agents for scans
- antihistamines
- nausea medicines (ondansetron, domperidone)
- cancer medicines
- gout medicines (allopurinol)
- addiction treatment medicines (methadone)
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful with alcohol and driving while taking Dapa-Tabs as it may cause dizziness and affect your ability to drive safely.
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.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use machines until you know how Dapa-Tabs affects you. The medicine may cause tiredness, dizziness, or light-headedness. If these occur, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything 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 avoid dizziness or light-headedness from sudden blood pressure drops. Dapa-Tabs may cause your skin to become more sensitive to the sun.
Storage
Keep Dapa-Tabs in the original pack until it's time to take them. Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Dapa-Tabs, 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 there are no symptoms. Overdose may cause low blood pressure, sickness, cramps, sleepiness, confusion, kidney problems, and salt/water disturbances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dapa-Tabs must be taken every day to properly control your blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your progress with regular check-ups and may test your blood pressure, kidney function, and electrolyte levels.
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, the medication 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 when combined with alcohol.
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 and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then return to 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.