Hydrochlorothiazide and Fatigue: What Users Say

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I tried for 2 months to adjust to hydrochlorothiazide. Immediately my legs hurt and felt like jelly, also my energy levels were so low I hardly felt like getting out of bed. I also noticed a lot of hair loss in my brush. My blood pressure went from 210/120 down to 140/78, and my edema was entirely eliminated. Hydrochlorothiazide definitely did its job, but I was in constant pain and so tired I couldn't function normally. I thought something was really wrong with me until I decided I'd had enough and intentionally skipped a dose and couldn't believe how much better I felt the next day. I'm going back to my doctor to change to something else!"

• Mgr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have genetic high blood pressure and had been on lisinopril for many years. It started not working well, so hydrochlorothiazide was added. The first few months seemed to go well aside from fatigue. The last few months, I have had a resting pulse rate of 115 and palpitations. I sweat tremendously and feel exhausted. I went to the doctor yesterday who took me off it. Beta-blockers cause me depression, I can’t do channel blockers. I am on irbesartan and hope it will hold. Different drugs affect people differently, but to think it is a magic pill with no side effects is a mistake."

• Vkp...
• January 14, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Bad stuff. Second or third time over the past 3 months trying Hydro. It raised diastolic and heart rate to 90-100! Both were much lower before Hydro. 'Extreme' fatigue, shaky, jittery, dry mouth, dry eyes, gastric pains, hands stiff and weak."

• 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."

• sup...
• February 20, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "This med was added to enhance my present ACE inhibitor (Enalapril 20 mg/2x daily) to reduce my BP. Recently, I became extremely ill with a viral sinus infection, and ultimately my BP spiked because of fighting this wicked infection. The physician thought it may be prudent to lower the BP, so HCTZ was added to the regimen of treatment at 25 mg per day. I've been on it for 3 weeks. BP is normal, but it was normal before the infection on Enalapril. I am in good health, eat right, and exercise. I can't believe the side effects: extreme fatigue, nausea, gastric pains, muscle pains, weakness, anxiety, and on and on. I contacted the physician today, and she immediately removed me from the med. Be careful and be watchful if this med!!"

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "I have taken hydrochlorothiazide for a number of years and felt that it helped lower my BP, but recently began feeling more fatigued, so my doctor raised my dose to 50 mg. I have had severe rashes and edema ever since. She is now running tests to see if I have developed lupus. I had just 3 months ago been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I am in severe pain, have large rashes on both legs that itch ALL the time, and my feet and legs are so swollen that I can hardly walk, especially in the morning and late evening. She took me off HCTZ 5 days ago until the results of the tests come back. I am also taking 240 mg of Diltiazem HCl and 20 mg of Altace. I need help and answers fast. I have never been so sick."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• June 29, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "My BP was 170/110 and was put on 50 mg of Losartan Potassium, and 6 weeks later my BP was 242/129 and I was sent to the ER, and 25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide was prescribed. After one week my BP came down and now stays about 140/100. I take my meds about 5 am and I have not experienced any side effects except for feeling sluggish until about 10 am, which is one side effect. No weight loss either, which I was really hoping for!"

• sco...
• February 10, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Worst experience of my life. I was sick for 2 days and felt hungover on the 3rd. Sweats, Fatigue, Restlessness, Minor Vision problems. To me, it was poison. This was 1 dose of 12.5 mg."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Started to take this medication, extreme dry mouth and overwhelming fatigue!"

• 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."