How and when to take bendroflumethiazide

Dosage and how to take bendroflumethiazide

Always take bendroflumethiazide as a doctor or pharmacist has told you.

Dosage

Bendroflumethiazide comes as tablets.

Your dose of bendroflumethiazide will depend on why you're taking it, your age and how well your kidneys work.

The usual adult dose for high blood pressure is 2.5mg once a day.

For build-up of fluid (oedema), the usual dose is 5mg to 10mg once a day but this may be reduced to a single dose taken 1 to 3 times a week.

Occasionally, your doctor might prescribe bendroflumethiazide to be taken twice a day.

Your dose may be lower if you are over 65 or have kidney problems.

For babies and children, your child's doctor will use your child's weight or age to work out the right dose.

How to take it

You'll usually take bendroflumethiazide once a day, in the morning. If you take it later in the day you may have to wake up in the night to go to the toilet.

If you have to take it twice a day, take it once in the morning and again around midday.

Try to take bendroflumethiazide at the same time every day to help keep it working properly.

Sometimes, your doctor may advise you to take bendroflumethiazide less often. You may only need to take it 2 or 3 times a week, in which case take it on the same days each week.

You can take bendroflumethiazide with or without food.

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Speak to a pharmacist if you or your child finds it difficult to swallow tablets.

How long to take it for

For high blood pressure you'll probably need to take bendroflumethiazide for a long time, maybe even for the rest of your life.

For fluid build-up (oedema) it will depend on what's causing it, so check how long you'll need to take it with your doctor.

If you forget to take it

If you forget to take a dose of bendroflumethiazide, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you normally take your dose in the morning and you do not remember before late afternoon, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. This because you may need the toilet more during the night if you take it later in the day.

Do not take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember your medicines.

If you take too much

If you take more than your prescribed dose of bendroflumethiazide, it can cause symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness and dehydration.

The amount of bendroflumethiazide that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.