Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide
What is Hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a prescription diuretic (water pill) used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and fluid retention (edema). It helps the body eliminate excess salt and water through the urine, lowering blood pressure and reducing swelling caused by conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease.
Side Effects
- Confusion, weakness, and muscle twitching
- Sores, reddish patch or irritated area, shiny bump, pink growth, or white, yellow or waxy scar-like area on the skin
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Warnings
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease or heart failure, high cholesterol, diabetes, gout, trouble urinating, or lupus.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:Eye or vision problems, including glaucoma, myopiaHigh uric acid in the bloodParathyroid gland problemsIncreased risk of skin cancer
- This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
- This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much, especially when you first use it or if you are dehydrated. Stand or sit up slowly if you feel lightheaded or dizzy. Alcohol may make this problem worse.
- Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine.
Prescription savings · · · ·
What is Hydrochlorothiazide ?
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a prescription diuretic (water pill) used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and fluid retention (edema). It helps the body eliminate excess salt and water through the urine, lowering blood pressure and reducing swelling caused by conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease.
- Confusion, weakness, and muscle twitching
- Sores, reddish patch or irritated area, shiny bump, pink growth, or white, yellow or waxy scar-like area on the skin
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
- Trouble seeing, eye pain, blurred vision or other vision changes
- Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, uneven heartbeat
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease or heart failure, high cholesterol, diabetes, gout, trouble urinating, or lupus.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:Eye or vision problems, including glaucoma, myopiaHigh uric acid in the bloodParathyroid gland problemsIncreased risk of skin cancer
- This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
- This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much, especially when you first use it or if you are dehydrated. Stand or sit up slowly if you feel lightheaded or dizzy. Alcohol may make this problem worse.
- Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine.
- This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
- Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Hydrochlorothiazide Coupons & Prices
Hydrochlorothiazide
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Hydrochlorothiazide prices by dosage
Lowest cash price with a free Rx.com coupon vs. the average retail price.
| Dosage | Quantity | Retail price | Rx.com price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.5mg · Tablet | 90 | $22.19 | $10.00 |
| 25mg · Tablet | 90 | $38.80 | $9.35 |
| 50mg · Tablet | 90 | $18.95 | $9.65 |
Cash prices near ZIP 77433; updated regularly. Actual pharmacy price may vary.
Looking for a hydrochlorothiazide coupon? Hydrochlorothiazide is a widely used generic water pill (thiazide diuretic) prescribed for high blood pressure and fluid retention, and the generic is already low-cost. Even so, the cash price can vary a lot from one pharmacy to the next, so comparing before you fill can make a real difference. Rx.com compares live prices across more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you.
What is hydrochlorothiazide and how does it work?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic, a type of "water pill" derived from sulfonamide compounds. It helps your kidneys remove extra salt and water from your body through urine. By lowering the amount of fluid in your blood vessels, it reduces blood pressure and eases swelling (edema).
It is FDA-approved to manage high blood pressure (hypertension), either on its own or combined with other blood pressure medicines, and to treat fluid retention linked to congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, kidney conditions, and certain steroid or estrogen treatments. You may see it sold under the brand name Microzide, and it is a common ingredient in combination pills such as lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide and losartan-hydrochlorothiazide.
Hydrochlorothiazide cost and coupons without insurance
Hydrochlorothiazide is available as a generic, which is one of the reasons it is among the more affordable blood pressure medicines. Still, "affordable" does not mean the price is the same everywhere. Cash prices are set independently by each pharmacy, so two stores in the same town can charge noticeably different amounts for the identical prescription.
That is why comparing matters even for a low-cost generic. Rx.com checks live prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies and shows you a coupon you can use whether or not you have insurance. There is no membership or fee to look. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you and pick the pharmacy that works best for your budget.
Alternatives and related medications
Hydrochlorothiazide is one of several diuretics and blood pressure medicines your provider might consider. Other options in the same or related classes include chlorthalidone (another thiazide-type diuretic), furosemide (a loop diuretic), and triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide (a combination that helps reduce potassium loss).
It is also frequently paired with blood pressure drugs from other classes, such as lisinopril, losartan, and amlodipine. Only your prescriber can decide which medicine or combination fits your health needs. If you have a coupon question, you can compare prices for any of these on Rx.com.
Safety and side effects
Hydrochlorothiazide has no boxed warning, but it does require some monitoring. Because it removes fluid and salt, it can throw off your body's electrolytes, most commonly by lowering potassium, sodium, and magnesium, so your provider may check bloodwork from time to time. It can also raise blood sugar, uric acid (which may trigger gout), and cholesterol. Standing up too quickly may cause dizziness or lightheadedness.
Two things worth knowing: the medicine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and long-term use of large cumulative doses has been linked to an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, so sun protection is wise. Rarely it can cause sudden eye problems (acute angle-closure glaucoma or blurred vision) or serious skin reactions, which are more likely if you have a sulfa (sulfonamide) allergy. It should not be used by people who are unable to produce urine (anuria) or who are allergic to sulfonamides. This information is educational and not medical advice; talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation and report any troubling symptoms.
This Hydrochlorothiazide information was written and reviewed against authoritative U.S. medical sources — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), DailyMed, and FDA prescribing information — and checked for accuracy. It is provided for education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Verify the official label: Hydrochlorothiazide on DailyMed (FDA)
Reviewed against FDA labeling · Last reviewed July 2026
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Medical disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.