PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

CO-AMILOZIDE TABLETS BP 5/50mg

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine. It gives you important information about your medicine. If you want to know more, or you are not sure about anything, ask your pharmacist or doctor. Keep the leaflet until you have finished the medicine.

What's in your medicine

Co-amilozide Tablets are yellow, circular uncoated tablets which come in one strength. Each tablet contains the active ingredients Amiloride hydrochloride equivalent to 5mg anhydrous amiloride hydrochloride and 50mg Hydrochlorothiazide.

The tablets also contain: lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, E104, E460.

Co-amilozide Tablets are available in pack sizes of 28s, 30s, 56s, 60s, 84s, 90s, 100s, 112s, 120s, 168s, 180s.

Co-amilozide Tablets is one of a group of medicines called potassium-sparing diuretics and antihypertensives.

About your medicine

The name of your medicine is Co-amilozide Tablets which is the generic (common) name. Your doctor may have given you this medicine before from another company and it may have looked slightly different. Either brand will have the same effect.

Co-amilozide Tablets may be used for:

• high blood pressure.
• congestive heart failure.
• oedema (fluid retention) associated with liver cirrhosis.
• dropsy or swelling of the abdomen.
• Co-amilozide Tablets may be given with other diuretic drugs for high blood pressure.

Before taking your medicine

Make sure you have told your doctor if you:

• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breast feeding.
• are sensitive to any of the ingredients in the product or other sulphonamide related drugs.
• have heart, kidney or liver disease.
• have too much potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia) or other disturbances of blood chemicals.
• are diabetic or are going to be tested for diabetes.
• have Addison’s disease.
• have gout.
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
• have difficulty passing water.
• are under 18 years of age.
• are taking other medicines such as medicines to lower blood pressure (including angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors eg captopril or enalapril and other blood pressure-lowering drugs e.g. atenolol), barbiturates (used in the treatment of epilepsy or severe insomnia), chlorpropamide (used in the treatment of diabetes), corticosteroids (eg hydrocortisone), corticotrophin, lithium, drugs which make you sleepy (narcotics eg dihydrocodeine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), drugs used to treat muscle and joint disease (NSAIDs eg ibuprofen or naproxen), certain types of diuretics (eg spironolactone or triamterene), and including any that you can buy without prescription.

You are advised NOT to drink alcohol whilst taking this medicine. Do not eat foods which have a high potassium content (such as bananas).

Co-amilozide Tablets may affect the results of some laboratory tests. If you see another doctor or go into hospital especially if you need an operation tell your doctor you are taking Co-amilozide Tablets..

Taking your medicine

Your doctor has decided the dose which is best for you. Always follow your doctor's instructions exactly, and those on the pharmacy label. If you do not understand anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

The usual dosage(s) are described below. The dosage you will be given will depend on whether you are receiving other medicines, and your response to treatment.

After taking your medicine

Like many medicines, Co-amilozide Tablets may occasionally cause side-effects in some patients, particularly when you first start taking it.

Co-amilozide may alter the balance of chemicals (such as sodium, potassium, chlorine and magnesium) in your body. Make sure you tell your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms: dry mouth, weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, restlessness, seizures, muscle pain, cramps or fatigue, low blood pressure, difficulty passing water, fast heart rate and feeling or being sick.

Other side effects of treatment can include allergic reactions (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing), back, chest or neck and shoulder pain or pain in the extremities, tiredness, malaise or weakness, fever, headache or faintness. Effects on the heart can include angina (chest pain), irregular, fast or pounding heart beats, sensitivity to the drug digoxin (used to treat some heart conditions), dizziness on standing and swelling of blood vessels (may cause skin rash, fever and weight loss). Effects on the digestive system can include a feeling of abdominal fullness, cramps, irritation or pain, activation of stomach ulcers and bleeding in the stomach, indigestion, wind, loss or other appetite changes, constipation or diarrhoea, thirst, hiccups, feeling or being sick, pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas causing severe abdominal pain) or changes in liver function including jaundice (yellow skin or eyes). Co-amilozide may alter the numbers and types of your blood cells. If you notice increased bruising, nosebleeds, sore throats or infections, you should tell your doctor who may want to give a blood test. Co-amilozide may affect your skin or hair causing loss of hair, dry mouth, itchiness, skin rash which may be itchy, flushing, sensitivity of the skin to light, sweating or swelling of the salivary glands. Effects on metabolism can include dehydration, changes in body chemicals (increased blood potassium, glucose or uric acid or decreased blood sodium), glucose in the urine and gout. Effects on the muscles and joints can include joint pain, aching legs and muscle cramps. Effects on the nervous system includes dizziness, numbness or tingling of the hands and feet, stupor, tremors and brain disease (characterised by poor concentration, confusion and delirium). Effects on your mental health can include decreased desire for sex, depression, difficulty sleeping or sleepiness, confusion, nervousness or restlessness. Co-amilozide may affect your breathing causing cough, painful breathing, fluid in the lungs or lung damage. Effects on your special senses can include bad taste, stuffy nose, ringing in the ears, increased pressure in the eyes, visual disturbances or yellow vision. Effects on the urinary and genital system can include pain on passing water, getting up in the night to pass water, frequent or copious water production, incontinence, bladder pain, kidney damage and inability to maintain an erection. You should consult your doctor if these are troublesome or continue.

If you get any other unusual effects, tell your doctor immediately and seek advice.

STORING YOUR MEDICINE

Do not use the tablets after the expiry date shown on the product packaging. Keep the tablets below 25°C in a dry place, protected from light, and in the original packaging. KEEP THEM IN A SECURE PLACE WHERE CHILDREN CANNOT GET AT THEM. REMEMBER, this medicine is for YOU only. NEVER give it to anyone else. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours. Unless your doctor tells you to, do not keep medicines that you no longer need - give them back to your pharmacist for safe disposal.