Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Aliskiren is an anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) medication. It works by decreasing substances in the body that narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure.

The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aliskiren or hydrochlorothiazide, if you are unable to urinate, or if you are also using itraconazole (Sporanox) or cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Before you take hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, tell your doctor if you have asthma, low or high levels of potassium in your blood, kidney or liver disease, glaucoma, gout, lupus, diabetes, or an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, unless your doctor has told you to.

It may take up to 4 weeks for this medication to control your blood pressure. Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

You should not use this medication if:

• you are allergic to aliskiren (Tekturna) or hydrochlorothiazide (Carozide, Diaqua, Ezide HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide, and others);

• you are unable to urinate; or

• you are also using itraconazole (Sporanox) or cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).

To make sure you can safely take hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• low or high levels of potassium in your blood;

• asthma;

• glaucoma;

• kidney disease;

• liver disease;

• gout;

• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE);

• diabetes; or

• an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.

It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.