Rauzide Information

Rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combinations are used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension).

High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled.

Rauwolfia alkaloids work by controlling nerve impulses along certain nerve pathways. As a result, they act on the heart and blood vessels to lower blood pressure. Thiazide diuretics help to reduce the amount of water in the body by increasing the flow of urine. This also helps to lower blood pressure.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combination

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Although there is no specific information comparing use of these medicines in children with use in other age groups, these medicines are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combinations in the elderly with use in other age groups, rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combination is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, drowsiness, dizziness, or faintness or symptoms of too much potassium loss may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are more sensitive to the effects of rauwolfia alkaloids and thiazide diuretics.

Pregnancy

Too much use of thiazide diuretics (contained in this combination medicine) during pregnancy may cause unwanted effects including jaundice, blood problems, and low potassium in the baby. Too much use of rauwolfia alkaloids may cause difficult breathing, low temperature, and loss of appetite in the baby. rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combination has not been shown to cause birth defects in humans. In rats, use of rauwolfia alkaloids during pregnancy decreases newborn survival rates. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combination.

Breast Feeding

Rauwolfia alkaloids pass into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects (difficult breathing, low temperature, loss of appetite) in infants of mothers taking it in large doses. Thiazide diuretics also pass into breast milk. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor before taking rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combination.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Allergies or other breathing problems such as asthma—Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause breathing problems.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Thiazide diuretics may change the amount of diabetes medicine needed.
Gallstones or
Stomach ulcer or
Ulcerative colitis—Rauwolfia alkaloids increase activity of the stomach, which may make the condition worse.
Gout (history of)—Thiazide diuretics may increase the amount of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout.
Heart disease—Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause heart rhythm problems or slow heartbeat.
Kidney disease—Some patients may not do well when blood pressure is lowered by rauwolfia alkaloid and thiazide diuretic combination. If kidney disease is severe, thiazide diuretics may not work.
Liver disease—If thiazide diuretics cause loss of too much water from the body, liver disease can become much worse.
Lupus erythematosus (history of)—Thiazide diuretics may worsen the condition.
Mental depression (or history of)—Rauwolfia alkaloids cause mental depression.
Pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas)
Parkinson's disease—Rauwolfia alkaloids can cause parkinsonism-like effects.
Pheochromocytoma