Pharmacotherapy Newsletter

Volume 3, Issue 37, 10/04/2011

Question

Should patients who develop hyperuricemia while receiving hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) be started on allopurinol?

Answer

The thiazide diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) remains one of the most widely prescribed and cost-effective antihypertensives available on the market.  This in part due to the numerous clinical trials and practice guidelines that support the use of thiazide diuretics as first line or add-on therapy for hypertension in a broad range of patients.^1,2  Furthermore, HCTZ is overall well tolerated and contraindications or warnings against its use are few.