The prescription medication hydrochlorothiazide (
HCTZ) is commonly used for
controlling high blood pressure and treating water retention due to various causes. It belongs to a class of drugs known as diuretics ("water pills"). Hydrochlorothiazide works by increasing the amount of salt and water that the kidneys remove from the blood, an action that causes a decrease in blood volume.
This medicine has been shown to significantly lower both
systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Hydrochlorothiazide also helps with water retention by helping the body get rid of the extra fluid. This drug is approved to treat water retention (edema) when used along with other medications.
Hydrochlorothiazide comes in tablet and capsule form, and is typically taken once a day. Some people need to take this medication on a daily basis, while others only need to take it when they need it (such as when they are experiencing water retention).
(Click Hydrochlorothiazide for more information about HCTZ, including more details on how the medication works, when and how to take the diuretic, and what side effects may occur.)
