INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take this medicine. It gives a brief outline of the more important things you should know. If you want to know more about this medicine or you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You should keep this leaflet throughout your course of treatment.

THE NAME OF YOUR MEDICINE IS CO-AMILOZIDE TABLETS BP

Co-amilozide Tablets BP contain the active ingredients Amiloride Hydrochloride BP and Hydrochlorothiazide BP. The tablets are available in two strengths, 2.5mg/25mg and 5mg/50mg.

Other ingredients in your tablet are lactose, calcium phosphate dibasic, maize starch and magnesium stearate.

Co-amilozide Tablets BP 2.5mg/25mg are cream to very pale buff in colour marked CZ 2.5 on one face and CP on the reverse and contain 2.5mg of amiloride hydrochloride and 25mg of hydrochlorothiazide.

Co-amilozide Tablets BP 5mg/50mg are cream to very pale buff in colour marked CZ 5 on one face and CP on the reverse and contain 5mg of amiloride hydrochloride and 50mg hydrochlorothiazide.

Co-amilozide Tablets BP are available in blister strips of 28.

HOW DOES YOUR MEDICINE WORK?

Amiloride hydrochloride is a potassium sparing diuretic. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic. The two are commonly prescribed together to get rid of excess water from the body without also losing potassium.

WHAT ARE CO-AMILOZIDE TABLETS BP FOR?

Co-amilozide Tablets BP are used to get rid of excess fluid from the body in liver and heart disease and to treat high blood pressure.

BEFORE TAKING THIS MEDICINE

You should not take co-amilozide if: -

• You have been told that you are allergic to amiloride hydrochloride, hydrochlorothiazide, any drugs of the sulphonamide type, such as sulphadimidine, or any of the other ingredients in the tablet. Check by reading the list of ingredients above.
• You are pregnant or breast-feeding (unless your doctor decides it is essential)
• You have severe kidney disease.
• You have been told you have high blood potassium or calcium levels.
• You are taking potassium supplements, or another potassium sparing diuretic (e.g. spironolactone or triamterene) or you are on a high potassium diet.
• You have Addison's disease (underactive adrenal glands).
• You have liver failure.
• You are receiving treatment with lithium.
• You are under 18 years of age.

Please tell your doctor before you take your tablets if any of the following apply to you:

• You are diabetic or have gout.
• You have any liver problems.
• You have kidney disease.
• You have a condition known as lupus erythematosus.
• You have porphyria.
• You have severe asthma and are taking medicines called beta-agonists; these include salbutamol, terbutaline, formoterol and salmeterol.

Taking another medicine while you are taking co-amilozide tablets can affect how it or the other medicine works. Make sure that your doctor knows what other medicines you are taking. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking co-amilozide tablets unless you have told your doctor or pharmacist and asked their advice. This includes medicines you may have bought yourself.

Examples of medicines that can affect Co-amilozide Tablets BP are:-

• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure particularly ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin-II antagonists, but also alpha blockers beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and other drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
• Medicines used for heart problems including sotalol, disopyramide, flecainide, quinidine, lidocaine, mexilitine, digoxin, digitoxin and amiodarone.
• Medicines taken for depression including tricyclic antidepressants such as dothiepin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and reboxetine.
• Medicines used for diabetes including chlorpropramide.
• Medicines such as adrenaline used in the treatment of shock.
• Medicines used to treat asthma called beta-agonists such as salbutamol.
• Other diuretics (water tablets).
• Allopurinol, used in the treatment of gout.
• Alprostadil, used to treat male impotence and heart defects in infants.
• Amantidine, used to treat viral infections and Parkinson’s disease.
• Amphotericin (given by injection) and fluconazole which are medicines used to treat fungal infections.
• Barbiturates, such as phenobarbitone, which are used to induce sleep or to treat fits (epilepsy).
• Calcium salts or vitamin D, used as dietary supplements.
• Carbamazepine, used in the treatment of epilepsy.
• Ciclosporin and tacrolimus, used to prevent rejection after organ transplants.
• Corticosteroids such as such as cortisone and hydrocortisone, used to treat inflammatory conditions.
• Carbenoxolone, used in ulcer healing.
• Cholestyramine and colestipol, used to treat high blood cholesterol.
• Cisplatin, used to treat certain types of cancer.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as indometacin or ibuprofen, used to treat pain or inflammation.
• Oestrogens and progestogens (female hormones), used for contraception and menopausal symptoms.
• Opioids such as morphine, used for pain relief.
• Pimozide and sertindole, medicines used in the treatment of mental illness.
• Terfenadine, taken for allergies.
• Tizanidine, used to treat muscle spasm.
• Toremifene, used in the treatment of breast cancer.
• Trilostane, used to treat problems of the adrenal gland

If you have any doubts about whether you should take this medicine then talk to your doctor.

TAKING THIS MEDICINE

The usual dose for adults is one to four of the lower strength tablets or half to two of the higher strength tablets taken once daily or in divided doses. Your doctor may increase the dose up to a maximum of four tablets of the lower strength tablet or two tablets of the higher strength tablet, or decrease the dose depending on your response to the treatment.

 

Your doctor will decide the dose that is best for you. Always follow your doctor's instructions completely. Also follow any instructions or warnings which appear on the label which the pharmacist has put on the pack. If you do not understand or are in any doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

To obtain a tablet, press on the tablet from the blister (or bubble) side, pushing it through the foil. Do not remove the tablet from the blister until you are ready to take it.

Unless told otherwise, take your tablets with water.

You should continue to take these tablets for as long as your doctor tells you to. If you forget to take a dose, take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then do not take the missed dose at all. Never double the next dose to make up for the one missed. Do not stop taking these tablets without talking to your doctor first.

If you accidentally take too much co-amilozide you might get rid of too much water and become dehydrated. You may notice this by feeling dizzy or having muscle cramps. If this happens contact your doctor or pharmacist or nearest hospital. Take this leaflet and any tablets you have left to show the doctor or pharmacist.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

Co-amilozide can normally be taken with no ill effects, apart from the expected increase in the amount of water you pass, and feeling thirsty. However, like many medicines, co-amilozide tablets may cause side-effects in some patients, particularly when they first start taking them.

The side-effects that some other patients have had with co-amilozide can be due to change in the levels of potassium and other salts in the blood. Symptoms can include headache, feeling weak, tired, irritable, dizzy, or faint particularly on standing up, loss of appetite, feeling sick or being sick, dehydration, feeling drowsy or sleepy, confusion, muscle cramps, irregular or fast heartbeat. Co-amilozide may cause raised blood sugar levels, can make diabetes worse and can cause gout.

Other side-effects include generally feeling unwell, chest pains, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach pains, pins and needles, loss of consciousness, nervousness, restlessness, feeling depressed, difficulty in breathing, blurred vision, seeing everything with a yellow tinge, impotence, reduced sexual desire, having to get up to pass water in the night.

Very rare side-effects include kidney problems, inflammation of the pancreas, problems with the blood which can cause pale skin, sore throat or unexplained bleeding, fits, liver problems, including jaundice (skin or whites of the eyes turn yellow). Coma in patients with liver disease. Itchy rash, which can be caused by exposure to sunlight. Skin rash, wheals or itching, unexplained fever or sudden extreme difficulty in breathing may be due to an allergic reaction, in which case you should stop taking the tablets and tell your doctor.

If you experience any side effects other than the ones mentioned here or feel that the tablets are affecting you badly, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

SAFE KEEPING FOR THIS MEDICINE

• Do not take this medicine if the expiry date on the label has passed or if the tablets show signs of "going off" such as discoloration.
• These tablets should not be stored above 25ºC. Store in the original package in order to protect from light. Do not transfer your tablets to another container.
• Keep Co-amilozide Tablets BP 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 tablets that you no longer need. Give them back to your pharmacist.