Indications/Uses
Dosage/Direction for Use
Overdosage
Management: Initial measures involve the rapid elimination of the ingested substance(s) by gastric wash-out and/or administration of activated charcoal, followed by restoration of water/electrolyte balance to normal in a specialized centre.
Administration
Contraindications
Special Precautions
Photosensitivity: Cases of photosensitivity reactions have been reported with thiazides and thiazide-related diuretics. If photosensitivity reaction occurs during treatment, it is recommended to stop the treatment. If a readministration of the diuretic is deemed necessary, it is recommended to protect exposed areas to the sun or to artificial UVA. Excipients: Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Special precautions for use: Water and electrolyte balance: Plasma sodium: This must be measured before starting treatment, then at regular intervals subsequently. The fall in plasma sodium may be asymptomatic initially and regular monitoring is therefore essential, and should be even more frequent in the elderly and cirrhotic patients. Any diuretic treatment may cause hyponatremia, sometimes with very serious consequences. Hyponatremia with hypovolemia may be responsible of dehydration and orthostatic hypotension. Concomitant loss of chloride ions may lead to secondary compensatory metabolic alkalosis: the incidence and degree of this effect are slight.
Plasma potassium: Potassium depletion with hypokalemia is the major risk of thiazide and related diuretics. The risk of onset of hypokalemia (<3.4 mmol/l) must be prevented in certain high risk populations, i.e. the elderly, malnourished and/or polymedicated, cirrhotic patients with edema and ascites, coronary artery disease and cardiac failure patients. In this situation, hypokalemia increases the cardiac toxicity of digitalis preparations and the risks of arrhythmias.
Individuals with a long QT interval are also at risk, whether the origin is congenital or iatrogenic. Hypokalemia, as well as bradycardia, is then a predisposing factor to the onset of severe arrhythmias, in particular, potentially fatal torsades de pointes.
More frequent monitoring of plasma potassium is required in all the situations indicated above. The first measurement of plasma potassium should be obtained during the first week following the start of treatment.
Detection of hypokalemia requires its correction.
Plasma calcium: Thiazide and related diuretics may decrease urinary calcium excretion and cause a slight and transitory rise in plasma calcium. Frank hypercalcemia may be due to previously unrecognized hyperparathyroidism. Treatment should be withdrawn before the investigation of parathyroid function.
Blood glucose: Monitoring of blood glucose is important in diabetics, in particular in the presence of hypokalemia.
Uric acid: Tendency to gout attacks may be increased in hyperuricemic patients.
Renal function and diuretics: Thiazide and related diuretics are fully effective only when renal function is normal or only minimally impaired (plasma creatinine below levels of the order of 25 mg/l, i.e. 220 μmol/l in an adult). In the elderly, this plasma creatinine must be adjusted in relation to age, weight and gender. Hypovolemia, secondary to the loss of water and sodium induced by the diuretic at the start of treatment causes a reduction in glomerular filtration. This may lead to an increase in blood urea and plasma creatinine. This transitory functional renal insufficiency is of no consequence in individuals with normal renal function but may worsen preexisting renal insufficiency.
Athletes: The attention of athletes is drawn to the fact that this medicinal product contains a drug substance, which may give a positive reaction in doping tests.
Drivers and machine operators: Indapamide does not affect vigilance but different reactions in relation with the decrease in blood pressure may occur in individual cases, especially at the start of the treatment or when another antihypertensive agent is added. As a result, the ability to drive vehicles or to operate machinery may be impaired.
Use In Pregnancy & Lactation
Breastfeeding: There is insufficient information on the excretion of indapamide/metabolites in human milk. Hypersensitivity to sulphonamide-derived medicines and hypokalemia might occur. A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. Indapamide is closely related to thiazide diuretics which have been associated, during breastfeeding, with decrease or even suppression of milk lactation. Indapamide should not be used during breastfeeding.
Fertility: Reproductive toxicity studies showed no effect on fertility in female and male rats. No effects on human fertility are anticipated.
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Combinations requiring precautions for use: Torsades de pointes-inducing drugs: Class Ia antiarrhythmics (quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide), class III antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide), some antipsychotics eg, phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, cyamemazine, levomepromazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine), benzamides (amisulpride, sulpiride, sultopride, tiapride) butyrophenones (droperidol, haloperidol), others eg, bepridil, cisapride, diphemanil, erythromycin IV, halofantrine, mizolastine, pentamidine, sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, vincamine IV. Increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, particularly torsades de pointes (hypokalemia is a risk factor). Monitor for hypokalemia and correct, if required, before introducing this combination. Clinical, plasma electrolytes and ECG monitoring. Use substances which do not have the disadvantage of causing torsades de pointes in the presence of hypokalemia.
NSAIDs (systemic route) including COX-2 selective inhibitors, high dose salicylic acid (≥3 g/day): Possible reduction in the antihypertensive effect of indapamide. Risk of acute renal failure in dehydrated patients (decreased glomerular filtration). Hydrate the patient; monitor renal function at the start of treatment.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (A.C.E.) inhibitors: Risk of sudden hypotension and/or acute renal failure when treatment with an A.C.E. is initiated in the presence of pre-existing sodium depletion (particularly in patients with renal artery stenosis).
In hypertension, when prior diuretic treatment may have caused sodium depletion, it is necessary: Either to stop the diuretic 3 days before starting treatment with the A.C.E. inhibitor, and restart a hypokalemic diuretic if necessary; or give low initial doses of the A.C.E. inhibitor and increase the dose gradually.
In congestive heart failure, start with a very low dose of A.C.E. inhibitor, possibly after a reduction in the dose of the concomitant hypokalemic diuretic. In all cases, monitor renal function (plasma creatinine) during the first weeks of treatment with an A.C.E. inhibitor.
Other compounds causing hypokalemia: Amphotericin B (IV), gluco- and mineralo-corticoids (systemic route), tetracosactide, stimulant laxatives: Increased risk of hypokalemia (additive effect). Monitoring of plasma potassium and correction if required. Must be particularly borne in mind in case of concomitant digitalis treatment. Use non-stimulant laxatives.
Baclofen: Increased antihypertensive effect. Hydrate the patient; monitor renal function at the start of treatment.
Digitalis preparations: Hypokalemia predisposing to the toxic effects of digitalis. Monitoring of plasma potassium and ECG and, if necessary, adjust the treatment.
Combinations requiring special care: Allopurinol: Concomitant treatment with indapamide may increase the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to allopurinol.
Combinations to be taken into consideration: Potassium-sparing diuretics (amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene): Whilst rational combinations are useful in some patients, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia (particularly in patients with renal failure or diabetes) may still occur. Plasma potassium and ECG should be monitored and, if necessary, treatment reviewed.
Metformin: Increased risk of metformin induced lactic acidosis due to the possibility of functional renal failure associated with diuretics and more particularly with loop diuretics. Do not use metformin when plasma creatinine exceeds 15 mg/L (135 μmol/L) in men and 12 mg/l (110 μmol/L) in women.
Iodinated contrast media: In the presence of dehydration caused by diuretics, increased risk of acute renal failure, in particular when large doses of iodinated contrast media are used. Rehydration before administration of the iodinated compound.
Imipramine-like antidepressants, neuroleptics: Antihypertensive effect and increased risk of orthostatic hypotension increased (additive effect).
Calcium (salts): Risk of hypercalcemia resulting from decreased urinary elimination of calcium.
Ciclosporin, tacrolimus: Risk of increased plasma creatinine without any change in circulating cyclosporin levels, even in the absence of water/sodium depletion. Corticosteroids, tetracosactide (systemic route): Decreased antihypertensive effect (water/sodium retention due to corticosteroids).
Storage
Action
Pharmacodynamics: Phase II and III studies using monotherapy have demonstrated an antihypertensive effect lasting 24 hours. This was present at doses where the diuretic effect was of mild intensity. The antihypertensive activity of indapamide is related to an improvement in arterial compliance and a reduction in arteriolar and total peripheral resistance. Indapamide reduces left ventricular hypertrophy. Thiazide and related diuretics have a plateau therapeutic effect beyond a certain dose, while adverse effects continue to increase. The dose should not be increased if treatment is ineffective.
It has also been shown, in the short-, mid- and long-term in hypertensive patients, that indapamide: does not interfere with lipid metabolism: triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol; does not interfere with carbohydrate metabolism, even in diabetic hypertensive patients.
Pharmacokinetics: Indapamide (Natrilix SR) is supplied in a prolonged release dosage form based on a matrix system in which the drug substance is dispersed within a support which allows sustained release of indapamide.
Absorption: The fraction of indapamide released is rapidly and totally absorbed via the gastrointestinal digestive tract. Eating slightly increases the rapidity of absorption but has no influence on the amount of the drug absorbed. Peak serum level following a single dose occurs about 12 hours after ingestion; repeated administration reduces the variation in serum levels between 2 doses. Intra-individual variability exists.
Distribution: Binding of indapamide to plasma proteins is 79%. The plasma elimination half-life is 14 to 24 hours (mean 18 hours). Steady state is achieved after 7 days. Repeated administration does not lead to accumulation.
Metabolism: Elimination is essentially urinary (70% of the dose) and fecal (22%) in the form of inactive metabolites.
High risk populations: Pharmacokinetic parameters are unchanged in renal failure patients.
MedsGo Class
Features
- Indapamide