Karvezide (Irbesartan And Hydrochlorothiazide)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Karvezide Used For?
Karvezide is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients that work together to lower blood pressure effectively.
Primary Uses
Karvezide is used to treat high blood pressure, which doctors call hypertension.
How It Works
Karvezide contains irbesartan, which belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. It blocks a substance called angiotensin-II that causes blood vessels to narrow, helping to widen blood vessels and make it easier for your heart to pump blood. It also contains hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic that increases urine volume and helps lower blood pressure, particularly when combined with other blood pressure medicines.
How to Take Karvezide
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 Karvezide at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. It doesn’t matter if you take it before or after food. The full blood pressure lowering effect should be reached 6 to 8 weeks after beginning treatment. Continue taking until your doctor tells you to stop.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose at the usual time and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and go back to taking your tablets 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:
- Headache
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Stomach 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 aches, 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
- Fainting
- Diabetes symptoms (excessive thirst, increased urination, appetite changes)
- Kidney disease symptoms (little/no urine, drowsiness, nausea)
- High potassium symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness)
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes)
- Liver disease symptoms
- Low platelet count symptoms (easy bruising, bleeding)
- Vision disturbances and eye pain
- Acute respiratory distress symptoms
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Karvezide should not be used or requires careful monitoring.
Who Should Not Take Karvezide
Do not take Karvezide if you are allergic to irbesartan, hydrochlorothiazide, sulfonamide medicines, or any ingredients listed; if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding; if you have diabetes or kidney problems and are taking ACE inhibitors or aliskiren-containing medicines; or if you are not producing urine.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have kidney problems, heart problems, liver problems, diabetes, gout, lupus, high or low electrolyte levels, primary aldosteronism, are restricting salt intake, have had sympathectomy surgery, are taking diuretics, have allergies or asthma, have had skin cancer, have vision problems or eye pain, or have experienced breathing problems with hydrochlorothiazide before.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Karvezide if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Karvezide.
Skin Cancer Risk: Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide, particularly long-term use with high doses, may increase the risk of some types of skin and lip cancer. Protect your skin from sun exposure and UV rays while taking Karvezide.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interact with Karvezide and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Other blood pressure medicines
- Other diuretics
- Lithium or lithium-containing medicines
- Potassium tablets and potassium-containing salt tablets
- Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors)
- Diabetes medicines like repaglinide
- Calcium supplements and 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
Karvezide can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol, so special precautions are needed.
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 before you drive or use machines until you know how Karvezide affects you. Karvezide may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive. Make sure you know how you react to Karvezide before driving or operating machinery.
Temperature Regulation
Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when taking Karvezide, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water, you may faint or feel light-headed or sick because your body doesn’t have enough fluid and your blood pressure is low.
Storage
Keep Karvezide tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store 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. Do not use after the expiry date. Keep where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Karvezide, you may need urgent medical attention. Taking too many tablets will probably make you feel light-headed or dizzy. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
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 Karvezide tablets before or after food. Just swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Do not stop taking Karvezide or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Continue taking Karvezide until your doctor tells you to stop.
Yes, make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when taking Karvezide, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water, you may faint or feel light-headed.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Karvezide, as your blood pressure may drop suddenly.
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.