What it is used for
- Treating high blood pressure, alone or with other medicines
- The combination with hydrochlorothiazide when one medicine does not control blood pressure
How it is used
- Take it only as prescribed by your doctor, swallowing the tablet with water
- Take it the same way each time in relation to meals, and avoid taking it with grapefruit, apple or orange juice, which reduce absorption
- Keep taking it even if you feel well, and do not stop without your doctor's advice
- Attend blood pressure checks and kidney and potassium tests as your doctor arranges
Possible side effects
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness, especially on standing
- Raised potassium in the blood
- Rarely, swelling of the face, lips or tongue
- With the water tablet: passing more urine, low salts and gout
Who should not use it
- Pregnancy
- Use with an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker in people with diabetes or kidney disease
- Previous swelling of the face or throat with aliskiren
- Taking ciclosporin, itraconazole or quinidine
Before and while using it
- Swelling of the face, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing, needs emergency help at once
- Severe vomiting, diarrhoea or dehydration can cause very low blood pressure and kidney problems; contact your doctor
- People with kidney disease need close monitoring of the kidneys and potassium
- The combination: tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfonamides or have gout or diabetes
- It can cause dizziness; do not drive until you know how it affects you
Medicine interactions
- ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers increase the risk of high potassium and kidney problems
- Potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes and potassium-sparing water tablets
- Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can reduce its effect and harm the kidneys
- It can reduce the effect of furosemide, and the combination can raise lithium levels
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- It must not be used in pregnancy because it can harm the baby; tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant or plan to
- It is not recommended while breastfeeding
How to store it
- Keep the tablets in the original pack away from moisture and out of the reach of children
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.