Hydrochlorothiazide and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Mja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on hydrochlorothiazide due to my BP 150/86. I took it in the morning, and very soon afterwards, my BP went to 171/112. I felt dizzy, had a headache, and felt like something was really wrong with me. I went to the hospital, and they said I was having a horrible reaction. After 2 days of not taking it, my BP went back to what it was. It's great if it works for you, but for me, I'm going to try diet and exercise."

• Jun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 21, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 57-year-young woman in relatively good health. I struggled with my weight since my early 30s, add anxiety, and I developed high blood pressure (BP) by age 40. I have been on 50 mg of Losartan and 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. My BP did not improve much and averaged in the 150s over 80s to the mid-90s. Recently, I started on a ketogenic diet which works great for insulin-resistant folks, and I have lost 30 lbs in 10 weeks and brought my BP down to 116/70. I asked my doctor to adjust my meds, she said it's too soon. I began to have severe dehydration, blackouts, and dizziness upon standing, profuse sweating, heat intolerance, and fatigue, so I stopped the hydrochlorothiazide on my own, and all the bad symptoms went away, and BP is still great! Listen to your body!"

• Ros...
• April 2, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have taken it for about 4 or 5 years on and off. I had stopped for a while because my BP was fine, but started this last year because I suddenly have elevated BP again and some swelling. It works fine for me at 12.5. I had a doctor prescribe 25mg and I had the leg cramps, some dizziness, dry eyes. I realized that is because I am dehydrated. If the medication is dehydrating you, I would say you are prescribed too high of a dose. Once it was decreased, all those side effects went away and I do not swell, and my BP is better. If you ever complain to a doctor and they tell you to just keep taking it and you don't feel good about it, follow your gut feeling."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking this med for HBP. I notice after I take it, my BP goes up and my pulse drops. I feel dizzy. I don't like it. My doc said to keep taking it, but I'm not so sure I should. Has this happened to anyone else?"

• Tee...
• July 6, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I don't even know where to begin, but my very first adverse symptoms were erratic heartbeats and vertigo symptoms. Doctors never associated these symptoms with the hydrochlorothiazide, so I continued on through the years with severe potassium losses, landing me in the hospital several times, severe muscle cramps, limb tingling, numbness, severe hair loss (being a woman, this was devastating), blurred vision, coughing, wheezing, and sinusitis, which I am now dealing with that started at least 5 years ago. I started reading up on all of my meds, and on this drug's list of adverse symptoms, I could check practically every box. I told my doctor and begged him to read up on this drug himself. He said symptoms couldn't possibly be related to this drug. I took myself off this drug in 2019, and guess what happened? My hair stopped falling out, my potassium level is normal, the crazy heartbeats have stopped, dizziness, and lightheadedness symptoms are gone. My cholesterol is back to normal, my blood pressure is normal."

• Tee...
• July 6, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I don't even know where to begin, but my very first adverse symptoms were erratic heartbeats and vertigo symptoms. Doctors never associated these symptoms with the hydrochlorothiazide, so I continued on through the years with severe potassium losses, landing me in the hospital several times, severe muscle cramps, limb tingling, numbness, severe hair loss (being a woman, this was devastating), blurred vision, coughing, wheezing, and sinusitis, which I am now dealing with that started at least 5 years ago. I started reading up on all of my meds, and on this drug's list of adverse symptoms, I could check practically every box. I told my doctor and begged him to read up on this drug himself. He said symptoms couldn't possibly be related to this drug. I took myself off this drug in 2019, and guess what happened? My hair stopped falling out, my potassium level is normal, the crazy heartbeats have stopped, dizziness, and lightheadedness symptoms are gone. My cholesterol is back to normal, my blood pressure is normal."

• Bil...
• September 20, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Terrible drug. I stopped after one week. I had major side effects such as severe nasal congestion, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, and difficulty taking a deep breath. I was very fatigued as well. I will not take this drug ever again."

• Anonymous
• March 7, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on this medicine for 2 days now. The second day of taking 5 hours after I took it. I had an allergic reaction. Dizzy, dry mouth, heart racing, and felt like I was about to faint. Anxiety panic attacks. Very scary medicine. I advise nobody to take this poison. I'm going back to my Dr. Changing this ASAP."

• kel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I took this for 1 year for my blood pressure and edema in my legs due to being overweight. Changed my lifestyle, cut out Gatorade, then I believe I started getting dehydrated. A week ago, I almost had to go to the ER due to dizziness, which got worse, then weird numbness, feeling like I was about to go unconscious, sweating, slight nausea, VERY weak. Stopped medicine 5 days ago, re-hydrated with Gatorade, OJ, eating bananas, and now am back to normal. Will never take this medicine again, I felt like I was going to die, very scary. If you must take this, stay very well hydrated and make sure potassium, magnesium, and electrolyte levels are all stable. This medication does what it's supposed to do, but side effects can be very dangerous."

• Ima...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 49-year-old woman, no weight issues, never a smoker. I have been on lisinopril the past year for sudden high blood pressure. Then I started to have vertigo and severe vertigo that was so debilitating I couldn’t move my arms or limbs. Dangerous sleep apnea. Headaches every day. One day after taking this medication, I feel like it’s saved my life."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I was diagnosed with HBP in late August and was prescribed HCTZ. For the past two months, I experienced nausea and dizziness almost every single day. On the 5th day of taking HCTZ, I got numbness on my scalp, which did go away. Still scary! I traveled with a huge water bottle everywhere I went for fear of becoming dizzy/lightheaded. Eating became a concern as my dizzy/lightheaded feelings were overwhelming after eating or if I waited too long to eat. I had an increase in migraine episodes. I barely got any before, and I had 4 episodes in the 2-month period. I already had cervical neck pain, but this medicine made it worse. I had to use a topical muscle rub and take Tylenol (one dose) almost every day. Needless to say, this medicine was not for me."

• SPr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 6, 2021

Hydrochlorothiazide for High Blood Pressure "In conjunction with Amlodipine, it worked well to lower my BP, which had been extremely high. However, after 1 year and a half, I began having dizzy spells. About a month after these started, I landed in the emergency room when my heart rate shot through the roof. While teaching, my heart suddenly began racing, and I thought I was about to blackout. I was rushed to the emergency room, where it was found that my potassium was so low, it was affecting my heart. I was immediately taken off hydrochlorothiazide and given potassium for a couple of days. Once off the drug, my arrhythmia attacks lessened and then completely stopped after about 2 months. If you are taking this drug, ensure your doctor is checking up on your potassium levels."

• mod...
• May 2, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I just started taking this medicine about a week ago. I'm 34 years old, healthy, active, and we believe my high blood pressure is attributed to genetics. I was adopted, so I am unsure whether or not I have a biological history of HBP. After a year of monitoring my BP, I finally decided that I needed to see the doc about it. He originally prescribed me Lisinopril, in which I became lightheaded and dizzy, so he switched me to HCTZ, starting off at 6.25 mg (dividing the 12.5 mg dosage). The day after I took my first dose, my BP had already gone down to normal levels. I was amazed. I really didn't experience anything else other than going to the bathroom more often, which isn't too inconvenient for me. But now I'm beginning to feel lazy."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking this medicine after having high blood pressure for 9 months. The first pill made me nauseous and dizzy. I was told that my body would get used to it. Seven days later, I have pain in my stomach and right lower side, severely nauseous, dizzy like being drunk, and I am a Type 2 diabetic. My blood sugar spiked 65%! I took my last pill on a Sunday, telehealth visit with the doctor on Monday, and was taken off this medication. It took me until Friday and 2 Imodium to get rid of the side effects."

• MeI...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 27, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 62-year-old woman who had been taking Losartan for 7 years to manage my blood pressure, but it only brought it down to 134/90. I noticed fluid accumulation near my ankles, and my doctor switched me to HCTZ 25 mg in June 2022. Within weeks, my blood pressure decreased to a consistent 116/65, and I lost 8 pounds. However, in January 2023, my blood pressure started to increase to 134/92 and continued to climb until I ended up in the ER on March 23, 2023, with a blood pressure of 193/116, feeling chest pressure, dizziness, and a racing heart. The ambulance personnel and ER staff were unable to determine the cause, but they discovered that my potassium and magnesium levels were critically low and treated me accordingly. My regular doctor advised me to stop taking HCTZ immediately, and I have been feeling better for the past 5 days. However, I found HCTZ to be a powerful medication."

• Lac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking this medicine 4 days ago. On day 3, the cramps started so badly that I couldn't do anything without my hands involuntarily becoming fists, sometimes both of them, to the point of my husband having to help me pry them apart. I also had dizziness, nausea, muscle pain, among others. None of which I had on the Benazapril. I talked to my doctor yesterday, and he switched me to something different. I'm hoping it helps!"

• Kah...
• January 15, 2010

For Edema "I had noticeable results within 24 hours. I had gained a lot of edema from Lyrica. This drug helped reverse that with little discomfort or side effects. I had an increased pulse at first and a little dizziness, but it went away quickly."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking 50 mg of Metoprolol Succ for 5 years, and my blood pressure recently became very variable. At times, it was very well controlled, but then it would spike. My cardiologist added 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide daily. I'd taken it years ago, and it caused my sodium to go quite low-122. The doctor that prescribed it stopped. This doctor convinced me to try it again, and she would check my sodium and potassium. I took it for three days and developed several side effects, including dizziness, vision changes, mild chest pain, severe constipation, and both upper and lower abdominal pains. The doctor said to stop it. I checked my diary, and sure enough, I'd been having severe constipation and abdominal pain the last time I took it."

• son...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "This drug works well in getting rid of water retention. I would give it at least an 8 for that. But the side effects are just horrible for me. So I am rating it much lower at a 1. I've tried to take this medication several times. Every time I end up with a very dry mouth, dizziness, and fatigue. It makes me feel very lousy. It is strange that I used to take this drug for many years as part of a high blood pressure combo such as Valsartan HCTZ. But I can't anymore. I think I am allergic to this medication. I will never take it again."

• Mat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 7, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on this medication since my mid-twenties. After I had a hernia operation and started a new job, my primary care doctor noticed my blood pressure was getting high, so she put me on this medication. I've tolerated it fairly well, but used to get dizzy upon standing when I first started taking it. I called her, and she told me to just eat bananas since this medication can drain your electrolyte balance. Other than that and noticing that I sunburn a little easier at the beach, I just have to be careful to reapply sunblock and stay in the shade a little more, and I need to drink beverages with electrolytes when it's hot out. Also, this medication will make you have to urinate an hour or so after taking it. Other than those minor inconveniences, it has not caused any major problems. I am now 32, going on 33, and have been on it for years."

• Luc...
• August 12, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on 25 mg once daily of this medication for over 20 years now. I take it with Losartan (beta blocker). I have never experienced any of the side effects (e.g., dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, etc.) that others have reported here. Of course, it's a diuretic, so frequent urination (another side effect others report) is going to occur. But for myself, I've not noticed it, as the only time I experienced frequent urination was due to either a UTI or the massive fibroids that formerly pressed on my bladder; the HZT never contributed to this. So really, I've never had one side effect that I could attribute to this drug at all since I began taking it. In fact, the only warning from the pharmacy is to avoid sunlight or artificial sunlight."

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor had me on 1 pill of hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, and after initial cramping, my body was okay after adding more electrolytes. Eventually, I agreed with him to try 2 pills of 25 mg a day, and it went fine for a month or two. Then I had dizziness bouts for a whole day, and I kept taking naps (which I read were signs of dehydration), and my skin and mouth were drier. My vision doubled in blurriness (some from the first pill too), and I got pink eye from the dryness and irritation. I just felt very 'off,' so today I went back to one pill. It does help, but stay on track with your electrolytes, especially if you're doing a low-carb diet AND taking these! On a side note, companies DO put in different ingredients, so if you have a bad reaction, try another company and see if it works better."

• kry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2019

For Edema "Took 25 mg for two days. Swelling down some 30%. Extreme weakness and dizziness (86-year-old male). Awaiting callback from my MD."

• Muz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Was on it for over a year, barely any side effects from the start until a couple of months ago. Now experiencing dizziness, fatigue, extreme thirst at times."