Dosage and strength
Indapamide comes as 2.5mg standard tablets, and as 1.5mg slow release tablets.
The usual dose of indapamide to treat:
- heart failure is 2.5mg to 5mg, taken once a day as standard tablets
- high blood pressure is 2.5mg, taken once a day as standard tablets, or 1.5mg taken once a day as slow release tablets
How to take it
It's best to take indapamide in the morning. If you take indapamide too late in the day you may have to get up during the night to go to the toilet.
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. You can take indapamide with or without food.
Do not crush or chew slow release tablets, as this stops them from working properly.
How long to take it for
As with other medicines for high blood pressure or heart failure, you will usually have to take indapamide for a long time, probably for the rest of your life.
It's important to carry on taking your medicines even if you feel well. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking indapamide.
If you stop taking it, your blood pressure is likely to rise, and this may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to recommend a different medicine for you.
If you get ill while taking it
Contact your doctor if:
- you're ill with a high temperature
- you're sweating and shaking
- you're being sick (vomiting) or have severe diarrhoea
Your doctor may recommend you stop taking indapamide for 1 to 2 days until you are better.
You can start to take it again when you're eating and drinking normally. If you take indapamide when you have an illness that makes you dehydrated, it can make the dehydration worse.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you usually take your dose in the morning and it is after 4pm, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
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 to take your medicines.
If you take too much
If you have taken more than your prescribed dose of indapamide, you may:
- feel sick (nausea) or be sick (vomit)
- feel very thirsty
- have diarrhoea
- feel faint, dizzy or weak
- feel sleepy
- have muscle cramps
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of indapamide
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of indapamide and you have a fit or seizure
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring the indapamide packet or leaflet inside it, any remaining medicine, and any other medicines you take.