The prescribed dosage for hydrochlorothiazide may depend on a person’s individual treatment plan. Other factors, including your specific diagnosis, body weight, and medical history, may affect your dosage of hydrochlorothiazide.
Hydrochlorothiazide comes as an oral tablet and oral capsule. This article discusses the tablet. It’s usually taken once or twice per day.
Hydrochlorothiazide is approved for use in adults and children to treat:
- high blood pressure
- edema (swelling) due to certain health conditions or medications
Hydrochlorothiazide is a generic and belongs to a drug class called diuretics. Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is not available in a brand-name version. (The oral capsule form is available under the brand name Microzide.)
This article describes the dosages of hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about hydrochlorothiazide, including its uses and side effects, see this hydrochlorothiazide overview.
Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended for hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those mentioned here.
Note: If you have kidney disease, your doctor may need to monitor you more closely while taking hydrochlorothiazide. In some cases, this medication may not be safe if your kidneys aren’t working well. If your kidney function gets worse, your doctor may need to stop the medication.
Keep reading for more dosage details.
Hydrochlorothiazide form
- Hydrochlorothiazide is available as an oral tablet.
Hydrochlorothiazide strengths
- Hydrochlorothiazide tablet comes in three strengths:
- 12.5 milligrams (mg)
- 25 mg
- 50 mg
Hydrochlorothiazide is approved to treat the following conditions:
- high blood pressure
- edema (swelling) due to certain health conditions or medications
The prescribed hydrochlorothiazide dosage may vary depending on the condition it’s being used to treat. Always follow your prescribing doctor’s instructions. Notify them if you experience any side effects that may prevent you from taking your medication.
Dosage for treating high blood pressure
The typical hydrochlorothiazide dosage for adults with high blood pressure is 25 mg once per day.
Your doctor may increase your dosage to 50 mg per day. You’ll take this as one dose or as two divided doses.
Dosage for treating edema
For adults with edema, the typical dosage of hydrochlorothiazide is 25 to 100 mg per day. You’ll take this as one dose or as two divided doses.
In some cases, doctors prescribe hydrochlorothiazide on an intermittent basis for edema. For instance, they may have you take your prescribed dose on alternate days or 3 to 5 days per week. For details about this, see the “How to take hydrochlorothiazide.”
If you have any questions about your dosage, talk with your doctor for more information.
Hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat high blood pressure and edema in children of any age. The dosage is the same for both conditions.
The table below shows the dosage for children by age and body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). The dosage per kg of body weight is measured in mg per kg (mg/kg) and is calculated by your child’s doctor.
| Child’s age | Typical dosage | Maximum dosage |
|---|---|---|
| under 6 months | up to 3 mg/kg per day, taken in two divided doses | 3 mg/kg per day |
| under 2 years | 1 to 2 mg/kg per day, taken as one dose or two divided doses | 37.5 mg per day |
| 2 to 12 years | 1 to 2 mg/kg per day, taken as one dose or two divided doses | 100 mg per day |
The drug’s manufacturer does not include a recommended dosage for children ages 13 to 17 years. For more information about hydrochlorothiazide’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.
Hydrochlorothiazide oral tablet is taken by mouth, with or without food. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you how to take hydrochlorothiazide. They’ll explain how much to take and the best time to take it.
How long do you take hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide may be prescribed for a short or a long time depending on the condition you’re taking the drug to treat:
- High blood pressure: Most people take hydrochlorothiazide long term to help manage blood pressure. If your doctor finds that the medication works well for your condition, you’ll likely keep taking it.
- Edema: You might take hydrochlorothiazide short term or long term, depending on the cause of your swelling. Some people take it only on certain days (for example, every other day or 3 to 5 days a week) to help prevent side effects of the drug.
Your doctor will explain your treatment plan and how long you can expect to take the drug.
Do not take more hydrochlorothiazide than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of hydrochlorothiazide overdose
Symptoms caused by an overdose of hydrochlorothiazide can include:
- dehydration
- low level of electrolytes in your blood, including:
- low blood pressure
What to do in case you take too much hydrochlorothiazide
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much hydrochlorothiazide. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about hydrochlorothiazide’s dosage.
Is 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide as effective as other daily doses?
It depends. For lowering blood pressure, a dosage of 12.5 mg per day may be effective when first starting treatment. But in
The typical starting dosage for high blood pressure in adults is 25 mg per day. If this dosage does not manage your blood pressure, your doctor may increase it to 50 mg per day.
Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure to determine whether a daily dose of 12.5 mg versus 25 mg or 50 mg of hydrochlorothiazide is right for you. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dosage of hydrochlorothiazide that manages your blood pressure.
If you have questions or concerns about your dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not change your dosage unless your doctor recommends doing so.
What should I do if I miss a dose of hydrochlorothiazide?
If you miss a dose of hydrochlorothiazide, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its regular time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. To help make sure you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
