Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Apo-Triazide
Serious warnings and precautions box
APO-TRIAZIDE may cause high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia). You are more likely to develop hyperkalemia if you:
While you are taking APO-TRIAZIDE, your healthcare professional may do blood tests to monitor your blood’s potassium levels and acidity. They may also check if you have any heart rhythm problems using a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG). Talk to your healthcare professional right away if you have an irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, chest pain, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or lips, shortness of breath, or weakness or heaviness of the arms or legs. |
|---|
What APO-TRIAZIDE is used for:
APO-TRIAZIDE is used in adults to:
- treat fluid retention (edema) caused by steroid use, heart, liver or kidney problems, or unknown causes.
- Lower high blood pressure.
How APO-TRIAZIDE works:
APO-TRIAZIDE contains 2 medicinal ingredients, triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide:
triamterene is a diuretic (also called a “water pill”). It helps the body get rid of excess water and salt by increasing urination, while maintaining normal potassium (an electrolyte) levels in the
- blood. This effect also helps to lower blood pressure.
- hydrochlorothiazide is also a diuretic. Similarly, it helps the body get rid of excess water and salt (including potassium). This also helps to lower blood pressure.
This medicine does not cure high blood pressure. It helps to control it. Therefore, it is important to continue taking APO-TRIAZIDE regularly even if you feel fine. Do not stop taking APO-TRIAZIDE without talking to your healthcare professional first.
The ingredients in APO-TRIAZIDE are:
Medicinal ingredients: triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
Non-medicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and sunset yellow aluminium lake 40 %.
APO-TRIAZIDE comes in the following dosage forms:
Tablets: 50 mg of triamterene / 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide.
Do not use APO-TRIAZIDE if:
- you are allergic to triamterene, hydrochlorothiazide, or to any of the other ingredients in APO-TRIAZIDE.
- you are allergic to any sulfonamide-derived drugs (sulfa drugs); most of them have a medicinal ingredient that ends in “-MIDE”.
- you have difficulty urinating or produce no urine.
- you have severe or worsening kidney or liver problems.
- are breastfeeding or are planning to breast-feed. APO-TRIAZIDE passes into breast milk.
- you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia).
have one of the following rare hereditary diseases:
- Galactose intolerance
- Lapp lactase deficiency
- Glucose-galactose malabsorption
Because APO-TRIAZIDE contains lactose.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take APO-TRIAZIDE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- are allergic to penicillin, used to treat bacterial infections.
- are taking a salt substitute that contains potassium, potassium supplements, or a potassium-sparing diuretic (a specific kind of “water pill”).
- have diabetes.
- have liver or kidney problems.
- have a history of kidney stones.
- have lupus.
- have high levels of uric acid in the blood or have gout.
- are dehydrated or suffer from excessive vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.
- have a history of allergies or bronchial asthma.
- have had or are planning to have a procedure called sympathectomy (cutting or blocking a nerve).
- are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
have a greater chance of developing skin cancer because you:
- had skin cancer or have a family history of skin cancer
- have light-coloured skin
- sunburn easily
- take medications to suppress your immune system
- have had breathing or lung problems (including inflammation or fluid in the lungs) in the past following the use of medication containing hydrochlorothiazide. If you experience any severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing after taking APO-TRIAZIDE, stop the medication and seek medical attention immediately.
Other warnings you should know about:
Eye problems: Hydrochlorothiazide in APO-TRIAZIDE can cause sudden eye disorders:
- Choroidal effusion: an abnormal building of liquid in your eye that may result in vision changes.
- Myopia: sudden nearsightedness or blurred vision.
- Glaucoma: an increased pressure in your eyes, eye pain. If left untreated, it may lead to permanent vision loss.
If your vision changes, stop taking APO-TRIAZIDE and seek immediate medical help. These eye disorders are related and can develop within hours to weeks of starting APO-TRIAZIDE.
Risk of skin cancer: APO-TRIAZIDE contains hydrochlorothiazide. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide may increase the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer. The risk is higher if you have been taking APO-TRIAZIDE for many years (more than 3) or at a high dose.
While taking APO-TRIAZIDE:
- Make sure to regularly check your skin for any new lesions. Check areas that are most exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest and back.
- Limit your exposure to the sun and to indoor tanning. Always use sunscreen (SPF-30 or higher) and wear protective clothing when going outside.
- Talk to your doctor immediately if you get more sensitive to the sun or UV light or if you develop an unexpected skin lesion (such as a lump, bump, sore, or patch) during the treatment.
Driving and using machines: Before you perform tasks which may require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to APO-TRIAZIDE. Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting can especially occur after the first dose and when the dose is increased.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding:
- APO-TRIAZIDE is not recommended during pregnancy as it may harm an unborn child. You and your healthcare professional will decide whether the potential benefits of taking APO-TRIAZIDE outweigh the potential risks to your unborn child. If you discover that you are pregnant during treatment, tell your healthcare professional right away.
APO-TRIAZIDE passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare professional should decide if you
- will take APO-TRIAZIDE or breast-feed. You should not do both.
Check-ups and testing:
- Your healthcare professional may do tests before, during and after your treatment. These tests may be used to monitor the health of your kidneys and liver, your heart rhythm, the acidity of your blood, the levels of electrolytes in your blood (potassium, chloride, sodium), your blood pressure and the profile of your blood.
- Your healthcare professional may stop your treatment with APO-TRIAZIDE before performing tests to assess the health of your parathyroid glands.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with APO-TRIAZIDE:
- Other medicines used to lower high blood pressure such as guanethidine, methyldopa, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, vasodilators, calcium channel blockers and direct renin inhibitors.
- Alcohol, barbiturates (sleeping pills), or narcotics (strong pain medications). They may cause low blood pressure and dizziness when you go from lying or sitting to standing up.
- Amphotericin B, an antifungal medication.
- Anticancer medications, such as cyclophosphamide and methotrexate.
- Antidepressants, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline.
- Antidiabetic medications, including insulin and oral medicines.
- Bile acid resins, used to lower cholesterol such as cholestyramine.
- Calcium or vitamin D supplements.
- Corticosteroids, used to treat joint pain and swelling.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which may be used to treat diseases such as
nephrotic syndrome or collagen diseases and in diagnostic tests.
- Digoxin, a heart medication.
- Medications that slow down or speed up bowel function, such as atropine, metoclopramide, and domperidone.
- Medications used to treat epilepsy, such as carbamazepine and topiramate.
- Gout medications, such as allopurinol and probenecid.
- Lithium, used to treat bipolar disease.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to reduce pain and swelling such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetylsalicylic acid and celecoxib.
- Skeletal muscle relaxants, used to relieve muscle spasms such as tubocurare.
- Potassium supplements, salt substitutes containing potassium or other medicines that may increase serum potassium.
How to take APO-TRIAZIDE:
- APO-TRIAZIDE is not for initial therapy. You must first be stabilized on the individual components of APO-TRIAZIDE (i.e., triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide).
Take APO-TRIAZIDE exactly as your healthcare professional has told you. Do NOT take more of it
- than prescribed.
- It is recommended to take your dose at about the same time every day.
APO-TRIAZIDE should be taken after a meal.
Usual dose:
- The usual adult dose is 1 tablet twice daily after meals.
- Your healthcare professional may increase or decrease your dose according to your needs.
- Maximum daily dose should not exceed 4 tablets.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much APO-TRIAZIDE, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms. |
|---|
Missed dose:
If you miss a dose of your medication, skip your missed dose and take the next dose at your usual scheduled time. Do not double your dose to make up for a missed dose.
Possible side effects from using APO-TRIAZIDE:
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking APO-TRIAZIDE. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects with APO-TRIAZIDE may include:
- cramping or upset stomach
- muscle spasms
- weakness
- restlessness
- dizziness or feeling like you are spinning (vertigo)
- tingling or “pins and needles” sensations of the skin
- headache
- constipation or diarrhea
- nausea or vomiting
- decreased appetite
- enlargement of the glands in your mouth
- dry mouth
- bleeding under the skin, rash, hives
- yellow hue or tint in your vision
- increased sensitivity to sunlight
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Common | |||
| Hypotension (low blood pressure): dizziness, fainting, light-headedness (may occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up). | √ | ||
| Decreased or increased levels of potassium in the blood: irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness, generally feeling unwell, muscle spasms, cramping, constipation, fatigue, tingling or numbness. | √ | ||
| Non-melanoma skin cancer: lump or discoloured patch on the skin that stays after a few weeks and slowly changes. Cancerous lumps are red/pink and firm and sometimes turn into ulcers. Cancerous patches are usually flat and scaly. | √ | ||
| Uncommon | |||
| Allergic reaction: skin rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing. | √ | ||
| Kidney disorder: change in frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, swelling of extremities, fatigue. | √ | ||
| Liver disorder: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. | √ | ||
| Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): frequent urination, thirst, and hunger. | √ | ||
| Electrolyte imbalance: weakness, drowsiness, muscle pain or cramps, irregular heartbeat. | √ | ||
| Rare | |||
| Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets): bruising, bleeding, fatigue and weakness. | √ | ||
| Decreased white blood cells: infections, fatigue, fever, aches, pains, and flu-like symptoms. | √ | ||
| Very rare | |||
| Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (inflammation of lung tissue or excess fluid in the lungs): severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, weakness, and confusion. | √ | ||
| Anemia (decreased number of red blood cells): fatigue, loss of energy, weakness, shortness of breath. | √ | ||
| Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancrease): abdominal pain that lasts and gets worse when you lie down, nausea, vomiting. | √ | ||
| Unknown | |||
Eye disorders:
| √ | ||
| Increased levels of uric acid in the blood: swelling, redness in the joints, sudden and intense attacks of joint pain (gout attack) | √ | ||
| Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels): fever, confusion, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, sweats, joint or muscle pain or swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness, a rash of bluish purple spots or blotches. | √ | ||
| Worsening or activation of lupus: fatigue, fever, joint pain, stiffness and swelling, rash on the face that | √ | ||
| covers the cheeks and the bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body, skin lesions, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, headaches, confusion and memory loss. | |||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
- Store at room temperature 15°C - 30°C.
- Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about APO-TRIAZIDE:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes the Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada Drug Product Database website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website http://www.apotex.ca/products; or by calling 1-800-667-4708.
Date of Authorization: 2026-08-25