ZAROXOLYN (METOLAZONE)

Zaroxolyn Description

Zaroxolyn or generic Metolazone is a diuretic (water pill) that your doctor can prescribe to eliminate excess fluid from your body to help reduce your blood pressure. Hypertension has no symptoms to alert you that you are at risk for a heart attack or stroke, so many individuals are made aware of this condition during a regular medical exam. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

High blood pressure can occur from stress, high salt intake, being obese, or it can run in your family. You can do your part to try and reduce your blood pressure by eating healthy, exercising to lose weight, stop smoking, and become more active.

How Diuretic Drugs Work for Hypertension

Zaroxolyn acts on your kidneys to increase the excretion of sodium (salt) in your urine. As the kidneys expel the sodium, they also get rid of water from your blood. This action decreases the volume of fluid that flows through your blood vessels which will reduce the pressure exerted on the walls of your arteries. As the pressure decreases, your blood pressure will drop to a more normal range and you are less at risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Other Uses for Zaroxolyn

For those with kidney disease, you may also be dealing with edema (swelling) in your legs and around your eyes. This is due to your kidneys not being able to effectively excrete sodium into your urine. If your salt intake exceeds the amount of salt your kidneys can expel, fluid builds up in the tissues around your ankles.

A reduced blood supply to your heart muscle because of narrowed arteries is the most common cause of congested heart failure (CHF). If your heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood around your body to the organs and tissues, a back pressure builds up in small blood vessels and fluid leaks out into surrounding tissues and causes swelling. Zaroxolyn is not a cure for hypertension, congestive heart failure or kidney disease, but it can help relieve some of the fluid build-up.

Before Zaroxolyn is Prescribed to You

Express any concerns to your doctor whether Zaroxolyn is safe to take if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Discuss other medical conditions or allergies with your doctor and list any OTC or Rx drugs you currently use or take, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements, to determine if Zaroxolyn is the right medication for you.

Precautions for Zaroxolyn

Until you know how Zaroxolyn will affect you, do not drive or perform any task that may be considered unsafe if you are not clear-headed. Keep Zaroxolyn out of children’s reach and do not share this or any medicine with others that have similar symptoms. If you are a diabetic, monitor your blood sugar levels often as Zaroxolyn may cause it to increase.

Possible Side Effects of Zaroxolyn

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Upset stomach
• Loss of appetite