Navispare

How does it work?

Navispare tablets contain two active ingredients, cyclopenthiazide and amiloride. Cyclopenthiazide is a type of medicine called a thiazide diuretic, and amiloride is a type of medicine called a potassium-sparing diuretic.

Diuretics are sometimes referred to as ‘water tablets’. They remove excess fluid from the body by increasing the production of urine.

Diuretics act in the kidneys. They work by causing the kidneys to increase the amount of salts, such as potassium and sodium, that are filtered out of the blood and into the urine. When these salts are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, they draw water alongside them. As diuretics increase the removal of salts from the blood, they also cause more water to be drawn out of the blood and into the urine.

Removing water from the blood decreases the volume of fluid circulating through the blood vessels. This subsequently decreases the pressure within the blood vessels. Diuretics such as cyclopenthiazide can therefore be used to lower high blood pressure.

Cyclopenthiazide can cause lots of potassium to be filtered out of the blood, which can sometimes cause the level of potassium in the blood to fall too low. A low blood potassium level is called hypokalaemia and can sometimes be dangerous, particularly for people with heart disease or liver disease.

Amiloride on the other hand, is a weaker diuretic that causes potassium to be retained in the body. It is used in combination with the cyclopenthiazide in this medicine to prevent the amount of potassium in the blood from falling too low.

What is it used for?

Mild to moderate high blood pressure .

Warning!

As diuretics cause your kidneys to produce more urine, you may prefer to take this medicine in the morning rather than before going to bed, as this will reduce the likelihood of you needing to get up in the night to visit the toilet. Seek further advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine may cause dizziness, sleep disturbances or visual disturbances that may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

While taking this medicine you may need to have regular blood tests to monitor your kidney function and the levels of salts such as potassium and sodium in your blood.

If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine you should inform your doctor promptly, so that the amount of fluids and salts in your body can be checked: thirst, lethargy, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, muscle cramps, scanty production of urine, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, nausea and vomiting.

Use with caution in

Elderly people

Kidney disease

Liver disease

Diabetes

History of gout

High blood cholesterol levels

High levels of fats (lipids) such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood (hyperlipidaemia)

Severe thickening of the walls of arteries in the heart or brain

Long-term inflammation of skin and some internal organs (systemic lupus erythematosus).

Not to be used in

Failure of the kidneys to produce urine (anuria)

Severe kidney failure

Severe liver failure

Allergy to medicines from the sulphonamide group, eg the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole

High level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia)

Low level of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia)

Low level of sodium in the blood (hyponatraemia)

High level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)

High level of uric acid in the blood, which is causing symptoms such as gout or uric acid stones (hyperuricaemia)

Inadequate production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (Addison's disease)

High blood pressure caused by pregnancy

Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine may be harmful to a developing baby. It should not be used to treat high blood pressure in pregnancy (pre-eclampsia). When used in the third trimester, thiazide diuretics may cause the number of platelets in the baby's blood to fall (thrombocytopenia), which could increase the risk of bleeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk. It may also decrease the production of breast milk. It is not recommended for use by breastfeeding mothers. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Increased level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia)

Rise in the levels of fats such as cholesterol in the blood

Visual disturbances

Decreased level of sodium in the blood (hyponatraemia)

Decreased level of magnesium in the blood (hypomagnesaemia)

Increased level of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricaemia) - this may cause kidney problems and gout

Skin rash

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when moving from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

Impotence

Loss of appetite

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Headache

Dizziness

Disturbed sleep

Depression

Increased level of glucose in the blood (hyperglycaemia)

Increased level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)

Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight (photosensitivity)

Disturbance in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood

Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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