Have Become Allergic To HCTZ. Prescribed Chloralid In Place Of HCTZ. Will Chloralid Be Safe?

Posted on Sun, 14 Apr 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 Answered on

Sat, 4 May 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I have recently become allergic to HCTZ. I have been prescribed chloralid to replace the HCTZ. I was taking avilide that really agreed with me. Lisinopril prescribed in the past. Caused low potassium. Will this drug have a great. Potential to drop my potassium? I have been taking avilide for years and for some unknown reason. I had like a histamine release that caused itching on my hands, feet and perineal area. In Dec. I took the shingles vaccine and after about 10day this occurred. Could this vaccine caused this reaction?

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (-4 hours later)

Hi friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

HCTZ (Hydrochlorothiazide) can cause allergy / can reduce the potassium

Lisinopril also can cause reaction, especially angio-neurotic oedema. / It is an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI) / It may increase the potassium - does not drop...

What is chloralid? - probably Chlorthalidone?

Avalide is a combination of Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB - Irbesartan) and HCTZ!

Vaccine is unlikely to have induced the change...

You can continue the ARB - safer than ACEI
Instead of HCTZ, you can switch over to a different class altogether - Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB - like amlodipine, Clinidipine, felodipine, and so on) - safer than diuretic.
There are combination formulas of these two for easy compliance

Take care
Wishing speedy recovery
God bless
Good luck

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar