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Hydrochlorothiazide, also called by the short-hand terms hydrochlorot or HCTZ, is a diuretic primarily used to relieve fluid retention caused by various disorders. It is usually prescribed to be taken once daily and is provided in tablets and capsules of various dosages. Hydrochlorot is available in generic form and as several brand names including Ezide and Microzide.

1. Edema

   • Hydrochlorothiazide is prescribed to reduce fluid retention, or edema, caused by congestive heart failure and kidney disorders, and from taking medications such as steroids or estrogen. Edema usually occurs in the feet, ankles and lower legs, but can affect other parts of the body as well. Hydrochlorot blocks salt and fluid re-absorption in the kidneys and causes increased urine output.

   High Blood Pressure

   • Another common use for hydrochlorot is reducing high blood pressure, which helps prevent serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as kidney problems. Researchers have not fully determined why the drug decreases high blood pressure, and also why it does not affect normal blood pressure. Theories include reduction in blood volume and cardiac output that result from sodium being eliminated through urine, and also that the drug may be able to directly widen blood vessels.

   Kidney Stones

   • Doctors can legally prescribe medications for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), called off-label use. One of these uses for hydrochlorot is preventing calcium-containing kidney stones, as the drug reduces the amount of calcium in urine.

   Ménière's Disease

   • Physicians also sometimes prescribe hydrochlorot to relieve symptoms of Ménière's disease, a condition characterized by too much fluid and pressure in the inner ear. This disorder can cause extreme dizziness and vertigo, and it affects balance and hearing.

   Edema During Pregnancy

   • Taking diuretics during pregnancy usually is not recommended, and any edema should be resolved by wearing support hose and elevating the legs. However, if a pregnant woman experiences edema from a disease-related (pathologic), cause, a doctor might prescribe medication such as hydrochlorot. Hydrochlorot also may be prescribed if the fluid retention causes extreme discomfort which is not alleviated by other methods.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is a form of the herb licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from which the compound glycyrrhizin has been removed. DGL is commonly used for problems of the digestive tract. It is available in several forms, including powders, capsules, chewable tablets and as an ingredient in various digestive compounds.

1. Licorice

   • Glycyrrhiza glabra, Koehler's Medicinal Plants, 1887, public domain

     Licorice root has a long history of use in both the Chinese and Western herbal traditions. It has a soothing effect on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and lungs, and is used for cough, sore throat, gastritis and any condition that irritates these membranes. Licorice is one of the most common herbs in detoxification and cleansing formulas.

   Glycyrrhizin

   • Glycyrrhizin diagram, Shaddack, public domain

     Glycyrrhizin (also known as glycyrrhizic acid or glycyrrhizinic acid) is the main active constituent in licorice root. According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner in her book "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth," glycyrrhizin decreases inflammation by enhancing the movement of white blood cells toward the inflamed area, and increases the activity of several immune compounds. The compound also inhibits the breakdown of cortisol and corticosteroids, increasing the anti-inflammatory effects of these hormones.

   Side Effects of Glycyrrhizin

   • Some people experience increased water retention and blood pressure with long-term use of licorice root. Glycyrrhizin is responsible for this, as it can cause the body to reabsorb sodium at the kidneys, which decreases the amount of water excreted. Licorice root is therefore contraindicated in anyone with high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney or liver disease, and it should not be used by pregnant women.

   DGL Uses

   • Deglycyrrhizinated licorice was developed in order to avoid the effects of licorice root on blood pressure. DGL is safe in pregnancy and is safe for those with high blood pressure and liver and kidney conditions. Its sole use is to soothe irritations of the digestive tract, as without the glycyrrhizin, the detoxifying and anti-inflammatory effects of licorice are lost.

   Contraindications of DGL

   • There are no known contraindications of DGL. Some people are adverse to the taste of the chewable or powdered forms.

High blood pressure can spell out some pretty serious things for you if you have it. It increases the chance that you will have a heart attack or stroke. But there are less severe side effects of high blood pressure that can affect your life daily. A person with high blood pressure may experience bouts of dizziness.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1

     Drink lots of water or other fluids that will hydrate your body. Often, a person with high blood pressure will feel dizzy because his body's blood pressure is dropping. One cause of that drop in the normally high blood pressure is a lack of hydration. This also occurs in people with normal blood pressure but to a lesser degree. It's safe to say, though, that it's always a good idea to stay hydrated no matter what state of health you are in.

   • 2

     Patch up wounds as quickly as possible. It should go without saying that if you are bleeding profusely, you should make it stop as fast as you can. The loss of too much blood can eventually lead to death, but first it will lead to a drop in blood pressure that will make you both cold and dizzy. Use your common sense and slap on a Band-Aid or apply gauze and go to the hospital if the wound is very serious.

   • 3

     Change posture carefully. Everyone has felt a little bit dizzy after sitting for a while and then quickly standing up. With high blood pressure, that dizziness becomes severe and can lead to a major accident. If you fall down and seriously injure yourself, it can possibly lead to death if no one discovers you.

   • 4

     Lower your cholesterol by eating heart healthy foods. If a food is potentially good for lowering your cholesterol, it will advertise that fact on its box. In the advertiser's eyes, people with high blood pressure are a captivated audience that has their health to motivate them to buy healthy products.

   • 5

     Exercise regularly to lower your blood pressure. At first, it is not advised to do a lot of heavy workouts. That is a quick way to become dizzy and fall over or to have a heart attack. Instead, gradually work your way up to an exercise regimen that is good for you.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Living with high blood pressure
• Additional dizziness information

Many people with high blood pressure (hypertension) must take one or more medications to achieve adequate control of their elevated blood pressure. Combinations of medications are not uncommon in the treatment of hypertension. Some experts consider combinations of lower doses of more than one medication more effective in treating hypertension than higher doses of a single medication erectile dysfunction online help. In the United States, five categories of medication are most commonly prescribed in the treatment of hypertensive conditions. Those five categories are: beta blocker, calcium channel blocker (CCB), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and diuretics.

1. Beta Blockers

   • Beta blockers reduce nerve impulses to heart and blood vessels. In doing so, they cause the heart to beat slower and with less force, in turn lowering blood pressure. Popular beta blockers include metoprolol (Toprol/Lopressor) and atenolol (Tenormin).

   Calcium Channel Blockers

   • Calcium channel blockers act to relax blood vessels by preventing calcium from entering blood vessel and heart muscle cells. The blood vessel relaxation results in lowered blood pressure.

     Calcium channel blockers are divided into three categories.

     Dihydropyridines work without slowing the heart. A popular medication in this class is Procardia XL.

     All other calcium channel blockers are categorized as non-dihydropyridine agents. Non-dihydropyridine agents are subdivided into two classes: verapamil and diltiazem. Popular verapamil medications include Calan, Covera, Isoptin and Veralan. A popular diltiazem medication is Cardizem.

   ACE Inhibitors

   • ACE inhibitors prevent formation of a blood vessel narrowing enzyme known as angiotensin II. ACE inhibitors are a popular practitioner choice for patients who have other conditions in addition to hypertension, such as diabetes or a history of heart failure. Popular ACE inhibitor medications include lisinopril, quinapril (Accupril) and trandolapril (Mavik).

   Angiotensin Receptor Blockers

   • Angiotensin receptor blockers interfere with (block) receptors on the arteries that the angiotensin hormone needs to bind with in order to have an effect. This prevents the angiotensin hormone from causing blood vessel narrowing that results in blood pressure elevation. As with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers are popular choices for practitioners in situations involving such other medical conditions as heart failure history and diabetes. A popular angiotensin receptor blocker medication is irbesartan (Avapro).

   Diuretics

   • Diuretics work by reducing the amount of fluid in the blood, which they accomplish by flushing excess sodium and water from the body. Diuretics work in the kidneys. Popular diuretics for use in treating hypertension include hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril) (a thiazide/sulfa diuretic) and furosemide (Lasix) (a loop diuretic).

   Effectiveness and Side Effects

   • Each individual's needs and particular physiological makeup vary. Consequently, finding the correct medication regimen for some hypertension patients can require a course of trial-and-error prescribing until a doctor finds a side effect-free, effective set of medications to manage the hypertensive condition. Blood pressure medications can have side effects in some patients. For example, thiazide diuretics are of the sulfa drug class, and can cause violent reactions in patients with sulfa drug sensitivities. Patients may also have reactions to medications in the other categories as well. Many medication options are available for the management of elevated blood pressure, and patients should at once report any side effects of specific medications to their health care professional.