Zaroxolyn

Zaroxolyn is an antidiuretic drug or a medication that promotes urine formation and elimination, used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and excessive water/fluid accumulation (edema) in the body caused by kidney disease and congestive heart failure.

This medication enhances salt and fluid excretion by acting on the kidneys, which results in an increase in the amount of urine and frequency of urination.

Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times.

• Take Zaroxolyn by mouth/orally before or after eating, once a day or per doctor’s recommendation during waking hours (at least 4 hours before sleeping time).
• The dosage depends on your medical condition or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Consult your doctor regularly and submit yourself to regular blood and urine test per doctor’s order.
• If you are diabetic, have your blood sugar checked regularly and update your doctor with your blood sugar status because this medication can elevate sugar level.
• Avoid overexposure to sunlight or any artificial source of ultra violet rays like tanning booth because Zaroxolyn causes photosensitivity. Apply sunscreen and wear protective clothes when you are outdoors to prevent sunburn.
• Avoid alcohol intake and do not engage in physical activities that require mental alertness (i.e. driving, operating machinery) because Zaroxolyn causes drowsiness.
• Continue taking Zaroxolyn on a regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Zaroxolyn may interact with:

• Cholestyramine
• Colestipol
• Diazoxide
• Digoxin
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Lithium
• Prednisone
• Cough-and-cold medications and
• Other antihypertensive drugs

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of Zaroxolyn. Likewise, Zaroxolyn may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with Zaroxolyn.

Never alter the dose of other medications while on Zaroxolyn neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects: There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Before taking Zaroxolyn, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Kidney or Liver disorder
  • Gout
  • Lupus
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Irregularities or Imbalance of minerals, particularly sodium and potassium

• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a child (Zaroxolyn has no known harmful effects to the unborn child but it passes through breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risk and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy should be discussed thoroughly with your doctor.)