Do not take Karvezide
if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to irbesartan or any of the other ingredients of Karvezide if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to hydrochlorothiazide or any other sulfonamide-derived medicines
if you are more than 3 months pregnant. (It is also better to avoid Karvezide in early pregnancy ? see pregnancy section)
if you have severe liver or kidney problems
if you have difficulty in producing urine
if your doctor determines that you have persistently high calcium or low potassium levels in your blood
Karvezide should not be given to children and adolescents (under 18 years).
Take special care with Karvezide
Tell your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
if you get excessive vomiting or diarrhoea
if you suffer from kidney problems or have a kidney transplant
if you suffer from heart problems
if you suffer from liver problems
if you suffer from diabetes
if you suffer from lupus erythematosus (also known as lupus or SLE)
if you suffer from primary aldosteronism (a condition related to high production of the hormone aldosterone, which causes sodium retention and, in turn, an increase in blood pressure).
You must tell your doctor if you think you are ( or might become) pregnant. Karvezide is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see pregnancy section).
You should also tell your doctor:
if you are on a low-salt diet
if you have signs such as abnormal thirst, dry mouth, general weakness, drowsiness, muscle pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, or an abnormally fast heart beat which may indicate an excessive effect of hydrochlorothiazide (contained in Karvezide)
if you experience an increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun with symptoms of sunburn (such as redness, itching, swelling, blistering) occurring more quickly than normal if you are going tohave an operation (surgery) or be given anaesthetics
The hydrochlorothiazide contained in this medicine could produce a positive result in an anti-doping test.
Using other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Diuretic agents such as the hydrochlorothiazide contained in Karvezide may have an effect on other medicines. Preparations containing lithium should not be taken with Karvezide without close supervision by your doctor.
You may need to have blood checks if you take:
potassium supplements
salt substitutes containing potassium
potassium sparing medicines or other diuretics (water tablets)
some laxatives
medicines for the treatment of gout
therapeutic vitamin D supplements
medicines to control heart rhythm
medicines for diabetes (oral agents or insulins)
It is also important to tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines to reduce your blood pressure, steroids, medicines to treat cancer, pain killers, arthritis medicines, or colestyramine and colestipol resins for lowering blood cholesterol.
Taking Karvezide with food and drink
Karvezide can be taken with or without food.
Due to the hydrochlorothiazide contained in Karvezide, if you drink alcohol while on treatment with this medicine, you may have an increased feeling of dizziness on standing up, specially when getting up from a sitting position.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pregnancy
You must tell your doctor if you think you are ( or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Karvezide before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of Karvezide. Karvezide is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Karvezide is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your baby is newborn, or was born prematurely.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Karvezide is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, occasionally dizziness or weariness may occur during treatment of high blood pressure. If you experience these, talk to your doctor before attempting to drive or use machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Karvezide
Karvezide contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars (e.g. lactose), contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
