indapamide hemihydrate at a glance
Medicine class
Thiazide-like diuretic and non-thiazide sulfonamide.
Licensed use
Essential hypertension in adults.
Monitoring
Blood pressure, kidney function and electrolytes—particularly sodium and potassium—may need checking.
What is indapamide hemihydrate used for?
Selected products are licensed for:
Treatment of essential hypertension in adults.
How does indapamide hemihydrate work?
Indapamide increases salt excretion by the kidneys. It also reduces blood-vessel contraction and peripheral resistance, helping blood vessels remain more relaxed.
indapamide hemihydrate preparations and strengths
Modified-release tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1.5 mg
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2.5 mg
How to take indapamide hemihydrate
Follow the label and the leaflet supplied with your specific product.
Swallow the tablet whole with water.
Food can be eaten as normal.
Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before crushing the tablet if it is difficult to swallow.
indapamide hemihydrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Low potassium, which may initially be found on a blood test
- Skin rash or hypersensitivity reaction
- Headache
- Dizziness, particularly when standing
- Nausea
- More frequent urination when first starting treatment
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction with facial, tongue or throat swelling or breathing difficulty
- Marked electrolyte disturbance causing severe weakness, cramps, fainting or abnormal heart rhythm
- Sudden eye pain, redness, or loss or blurring of vision
- Sudden severe abdominal pain suggesting pancreatitis
- Severe or blistering skin reaction
- Severe muscle pain or weakness, particularly with dark urine
indapamide hemihydrate in pregnancy
Indapamide is not usually recommended during pregnancy, particularly for hypertension. Experience is limited, and prolonged thiazide exposure may reduce maternal plasma volume and placental blood flow. A prescriber or pregnancy specialist should review treatment before conception or promptly after pregnancy is confirmed; do not change prescribed treatment without advice.
indapamide hemihydrate while breastfeeding
Indapamide is not usually recommended while breastfeeding. Small amounts enter breast milk, effects on the infant cannot be excluded, and related diuretics may reduce milk production. The prescriber should assess alternatives and the needs of both parent and infant, particularly for a newborn, premature or unwell baby.
indapamide hemihydrate interactions
Check prescribed, non-prescription and complementary products with a pharmacist or prescriber. Important examples include:
Lithium
Indapamide can increase lithium concentrations and toxicity; the combination is generally avoided or requires close monitoring.
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen
They may reduce blood-pressure control and increase kidney-injury risk, especially during dehydration.
Common questions about indapamide hemihydrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why does indapamide hemihydrate make me pee more?
It increases salt and water excretion by the kidneys. More frequent urination is often most noticeable when treatment is first started and may settle after a few weeks.
Can indapamide hemihydrate be taken with food?
Yes. Food can be eaten as normal; swallow the tablet whole with water.
Can I drink alcohol while taking indapamide hemihydrate?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.