Bendroflumethiazide is a form of medication belonging to the group of drugs known as thiazide diuretics. Bendroflumethiazide tablets help to increase the amount of urine that you pass, removing the excess water from your body. These tablets can help to reduce high blood pressure by making it easier to pump blood around the body.Bendroflumethiazide tablets work by interacting with the transportation of water and salt through cells across your kidneys. This helps you to pass more urine. In many cases, bendroflumethiazide will be given in combination with other medications for the treatment of high blood pressure, such as beta blockers, to help you make the most out of your medications. If you are given bendroflumethiazide alongside another medication, then you may be able to take your drugs as a combination tablet.Bendroflumethiazide is a medication given to address the issue of high blood pressure. This form of medication is a kind of thiazide diuretic or water tablet, intended to reduce the amount of retained fluid in the body. By helping you to pass additional urine, bendroflumethiazide removes the excess fluid from your body, which reduces your blood pressure levels and helps your heart to push blood around the body with ease. Bendroflumethiazide may sometimes be combined with other medications like beta blockers.
Bendroflumethiazide
What is Bendroflumethiazide?
Bendroflumethiazide is a form of medication belonging to the group of drugs known as thiazide diuretics. Bendroflumethiazide tablets help to increase the amount of urine that you pass, removing the excess water from inside of your body. These tablets can help to reduce high blood pressure by making it easier to pump blood around the body.
Bendroflumethiazide tablets work by interacting with the transportation of water and salt through cells across your kidneys. This helps you to pass more urine. In many cases, bendroflumethiazide will be given in combination with other medications for the treatment of high blood pressure, such as beta blockers, to help you make the most out of your medication. If you are given bendroflumethiazide alongside another medication, then you may be able to take your drugs as a combination tablet.
When is bendroflumethiazide used?
Bendroflumethiazide is usually prescribed for hypertension or blood pressure issues. Typically, it is given to people as a form of long-term treatment. If high blood pressure is left untreated, then you might find that you have an increased risk of issues like strokes and heart attacks. This is why doctors will start you on a consistent treatment as soon as possible.
Bendroflumethiazide can be used to help you eliminate blood pressure issues, but it will usually be combined with other strategies too, such as changes to your lifestyle, improvements to your diet and support to help you get better sleep. You may also need to take steps to protect your health when taking bendroflumethiazide, such as making sure that you don’t drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
How do you use bendroflumethiazide?
Bendroflumethiazide is usually given as a long-term medication. You will receive instructions from your doctor about this medication that you must follow carefully. If you have additional questions, you may be able to find more information by reading the information leaflet in the medication packet or talking to your pharmacist.
Follow the instructions of your doctor, usually taking one tablet per day. If you are taking bendroflumethiazide for fluid retention purposes, then your dose might be higher initially. Usually, your doctor will recommend that you take bendroflumethiazide in the morning, so that you can get the most benefit from it throughout the day, and your sleep won’t be disturbed if you need to go to the bathroom more regularly.
Take bendroflumethiazide with a drink of water. You can take this medication with or without food. If you do not take a dose of bendroflumethiazide when you were supposed to because you forgot to do so, then you can take the dose as soon as you remember. If it is late in the afternoon by the time that you remember, then you might need to take it the following day. Do not double up on a single dose in one day to replace a missed dose.
What dosages are available?
The dose of bendroflumethiazide prescribed by your doctor will depend on a number of different things, including the severity of your condition and what you are taking this medication for. Your doctor will also need to assess how well your kidneys work. Usually, the dose for high blood pressure starts at 2.5 mg once a day.
If you are using bendroflumethiazide to address a significant build-up of fluid, then you may be asked to take 5 mg once a day. Doctors will often prescribe a much lower dosage for elderly people who are more likely to experience side effects. Your doctor will use your child’s weight or age to decide the dosage for a younger person.
What are the side effects of bendroflumethiazide?
Like most medications, although bendroflumethiazide can have positive effects on your blood pressure and fluid retention, it may also cause some unwanted side effects. Not everyone will experience the bendroflumethiazide side effects listed below when taking the medication, and some people will experience different symptoms.
If you experience any side effects when using bendroflumethiazide, speak to your doctor about your concerns. You may need to change your dose of bendroflumethiazide if the pill becomes troublesome. Some of the common side effects include:
- More frequent urination;
- A reduction of blood pressure when standing up: this can cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded constipation and diarrhoea;
- Pain in the stomach;
- Decreased levels of potassium, magnesium and sodium in the blood increased levels of calcium in the blood;
- Increased levels of sugar in the blood;
- Changes in your medication requirements if you have diabetes increased levels of uric acid in your blood;
- Increased levels of fats in the blood.
Because bendroflumethiazide is usually prescribed as a long-term medication, your doctor will want to monitor your condition and any side effects that you might have over time. This will help to reduce your risk of more serious side effects. You may need to have regular blood tests to check your kidney function when using bendroflumethiazide.
Make sure you speak to your doctor if you feel constantly thirsty when taking bendroflumethiazide or suffer from dry mouth and dry skin. You might need to contact a doctor if your urine turns a strange colour, or you suffer with issues like an abnormal heartbeat, muscle cramps and seizures.
When shouldn't you use bendroflumethiazide?
Some patients taking bendroflumethiazide will experience feelings of dizziness when using bendroflumethiazide tablets. Make sure that you do not drive any cars or use any heavy machinery when using this medication if you don’t feel comfortable and safe doing so.
It’s important to discuss your full medical history with your doctor before taking bendroflumethiazide, including the history of your close family members, to ensure that it is safe for you to use this medication. You will not be able to use bendroflumethiazide if you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed for the drug or have a severely impaired liver or kidney function. You will also not be able to use bendroflumethiazide if you have:
- Addison’s disease gout;
- Low sodium blood levels low potassium blood levels low calcium blood levels.
You should also speak to your doctor before you begin taking bendroflumethiazide if you have diabetes, as you may need to adjust your treatment. You will need to be closely monitored when taking this drug if your liver or kidney function is impaired, or you have ever suffered from alcohol abuse. Bendroflumethiazide may not be suitable for you if you suffer from blood disorders, or a condition known as systemic lupus erythematosus.
People over a certain age will be required to have more frequent check-ups when taking bendroflumethiazide, because your risk of side effects will be higher. The dose of bendroflumethiazide given to you will be adjusted to protect your renal function. Remember that these medications should not be used on a long-term basis to respond to simple gravitational oedemas.
Does bendroflumethiazide interact with any other medications?
It is possible that bendroflumethiazide will react negatively with other medications you are already taking. Make sure you talk to your doctor about anything that you are already taking before you begin using bendroflumethiazide. This includes any medications that you have bought over the counter, as well as herbal supplements. Do not take any new medication when using bendroflumethiazide without speaking to a doctor first.
You will need to mention to your doctor if you are taking:
- Antidepressants;
- Drugs to control blood sugar medicines for an irregular heartbeat calcium channel blockers;
- Calcium salts gout medication;
- Epilepsy medication antipsychotic medication;
- Medications for antifungal treatments ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure
- Prazosin for high blood pressure;
- Asthma treatments like sympathomimetics corticosteroids;
- Carbenoxolone theophylline cancer treatments;
- Heart problem medications Cushing syndrome medication muscle relaxants;
- Vitamin D;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
Bendroflumethiazide may not be suitable for you if you’re already taking a combined pill or a medication that includes oestrogen.
Where can you buy bendroflumethiazide?
It is only possible to buy bendroflumethiazide from a pharmacy. You should not purchase this medication from any pharmacy if you cannot be sure that the store is registered and authentic. Avoid buying bendroflumethiazide from any company that does not ask for a doctor’s prescription or assessment.
Can you get bendroflumethiazide without a prescription?
Bendroflumethiazide is not available without a prescription because it requires a careful assessment from your doctor to make sure that you are taking the right treatment. Your doctor will need to consider your condition and medical history with care when giving you bendroflumethiazide.
References
Accord-UK Ltd, online, 2018, Bendroflumethiazide Tablets BP 2.5mg, Accessed on 22nd of June 2019], Available on: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5727/smpc
BNF, NICE online, Reviewed 2018, Bendroflumethiazide.html, [Accessed on 22nd of June 2019], Available on: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/bendroflumethiazide.html
NHS, UK Online, Reviewed 2018, Bendroflumethiazide patient care leaflet, [Accessed on 22nd of June 2019], Available on: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/bendroflumethiazide/