What is the most important information I should know about Lozol?

• Do not use this medication if you have severe kidney disease or are unable to urinate, if you have severe liver disease, if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, or if you have low potassium levels in your blood (hypokalemia).
• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, gout, lupus, or diabetes.
• Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
• If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What is Lozol?

• Lozol is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
• Lozol treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Lozol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking Lozol?

• Do not use this medication if you have:
  • severe kidney disease or are unable to urinate;
  • severe liver disease;
  • low potassium levels in your blood (hypokalemia); or
  • if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs.
• Before using Lozol, tell your doctor if you have:
  • kidney disease;
  • liver disease;
  • gout;
  • lupus; or
  • diabetes.
• If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Lozol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
• FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether Lozol passes into breast milk or if it could cause harm to a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Lozol?

• Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.
• To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
• Your blood and urine may both be tested if you have been vomiting or are dehydrated.
• If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
• Store the tablets at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a Lozol overdose may include nausea, weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, thirst, and muscle pain or weakness.

What should I avoid while taking Lozol?

• Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.

What are the possible side effects of Lozol?

• Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
  • dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting;
  • feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
  • fast or uneven heartbeat; or
  • muscle pain or weakness.
• Continue using Lozol and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
  • dizziness;
  • headache; or
  • mild skin rash.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Lozol?

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
  • lithium;
  • baclofen (Lioresal);
  • other blood pressure medications;
  • steroids (prednisone and others);
  • insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth;
  • salicylates such as aspirin, Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others;
  • an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others;
  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or
  • amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), bepridil (Vascor), chloroquine (Arelan), cisapride (Propulsid), clarithromycin (Biaxin), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), droperidol (Inapsine), erythromycin (Erythrocin, E.E.S), haloperidol (Haldol), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), pimozide (Orap), procainamide (Procan), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), sotalol (Betapace), sparfloxacin (Zagam), or thioridazine (Mellaril).
• If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Lozol, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
• There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Lozol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.