Hydrochlorothiazide Indications

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as diuretics. Several different conditions can be treated with hydrochlorothiazide. Indications for this drug include the treatment of:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Water retention (edema) caused by estrogen, corticosteroids, or various conditions, including:

Congestive heart failure
Cirrhosis
Kidney disease or kidney failure (renal failure).

Occasionally, healthcare providers may also recommend this medication for treating conditions other than those listed above. This is called an "off-label" use. At this time, there are a few off-label uses for hydrochlorothiazide, including:

Treatment of certain types of diabetes insipidus (a problem with the kidneys)
Treatment of water retention due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

(Click What Is Hydrochlorothiazide Used For? for more information about various hydrochlorothiazide uses, to find out how this medicine works, and to learn about the use of this medication in children.)