Indapamide

Sounds like 'in-dap-ah-mide'

Indapamide is a diuretic, which means it helps your body get rid of extra salt (sodium) and water. Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects.

Type of medicine Also called
  • Diuretic (causes you to pass more urine)
  • Thiazide diuretic
  • ‘Water tablet’ or ‘water pill’
  • Dapa-Tabs

What is indapamide?

Indapamide is used to treat high blood pressure  (hypertension). Indapamide is a diuretic, which means it helps your body get rid of extra salt (sodium) and water. It works by increasing the amount of urine (pee) you make. 

Dose

  • In New Zealand indapamide is available as tablets (2.5 mg). 
  • The usual dose is 1 tablet once a day, in the morning.
  • Your doctor will advise you how long to take indapamide for. 
  • Always take your indapamide exactly as your doctor has told you.
  • The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much indapamide to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.

How to take indapamide

  • Timing: Take indapamide once a day. It is best taken in the morning so it works during the day and your sleep is not disturbed by you needing to get up to go to the toilet during the night. Read more about tips for taking diuretics. You can take indapamide with or without food.
  • Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking indapamide. Alcohol may increase your chances of getting side effects such as dizziness.
  • Missed dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is late in the afternoon, skip the missed dose and continue as usual the next day. Do not take double the dose.
Be careful when taking some pain relief medicines
Taking diuretics together with pain relief medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, and medicines called ACE inhibitors or ARBs, can be harmful to your kidneys. Read more about NSAIDs and blood pressure medicines.

Precautions – before starting indapamide

  • Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
  • Do you have difficulty peeing, or do you have prostate problems?
  • Do you have gout or diabetes? These conditions can be made worse by indapamide.
  • Do you have problems with your liver or kidneys?
  • Are taking any other medicines? This includes any medicines you are taking which you can buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines and medicines you can buy for pain relief.

If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start indapamide. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.

What are the side effects of indapamide?

Like all medicines indapamide can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.

Side effects What should I do?
  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Stomach upset
  • These are quite common when you first start taking indapamide and usually go away after the first few days.
  • Try taking your indapamide with food.
  • Tell your doctor if troublesome.
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling lightheaded
  • Feeling faint when you stand up
  • Be careful when getting up from either lying down or sitting to avoid falls.
  • These effects put you at risk of falls and injuries, especially if you are an older adult.
  • Be careful when driving or using tools until you know how this medicine affects you.
  • Signs and symptoms of gout such as pain and swelling in your joints  
  • Indapamide may raise serum uric acid levels and cause an acute attack of gout in some people
  • Tell your doctor.
  • Signs of dehydration (loosing too much salt and water) such as muscle cramps, weakness, dry mouth, thirst or peeing a lot less than usual 
  • Tell your doctor.
  • Signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rashes, itching, blisters, peeling skin, swelling of your face, lips or mouth, or problems breathing
  • Tell your doctor immediately or phone Healthline 0800 611 116.
Did you know that you can report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side effect to a product

Learn more

The following links have more information on indapamide.

  • Dapa-Tabs Medsafe Consumer Information Sheets, NZ
  • Indapamide NZ Formulary Patient Information

Reference

  1. Indapamide hemihydrate NZ Formulary
Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist. Reviewed By: Maya Patel, MPharm PGDipClinPharm, Auckland Last reviewed: 06 Oct 2021