Common side effects
These common side effects of indapamide happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Mild skin rash
If you get a mild rash, speak to your doctor for advice as your treatment may need to be changed.
Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
Try taking indapamide after a meal. Try to stick to simple foods and avoid rich or spicy meals. Drink water or squash in small, frequent sips so you do not get dehydrated.
Speak to your doctor if you feel sick or are being sick frequently, or are unable to drink properly for more than a week.
If you take contraceptive pills and you're being sick (vomit) your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do.
Feeling dizzy or faint
Try sitting or lying down until you feel better. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you do not faint, then sit until you feel better. Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery while you're feeling dizzy.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects are usually rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.
Tell your doctor or call 111 straight away if you:
- get an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- get a severe stomach pain that develops suddenly, along with feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, indigestion, a high temperature, and tenderness or swelling of your stomach – these could be signs of pancreatitis
- feel or start being sick, get yellow eyes or skin, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin, have dark pee, pale poo, tiredness and loss of appetite – these could be signs of liver disease
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, indapamide may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Long-term side effects
If you are taking indapamide for a long time, you will occasionally have to see your doctor or nurse to get your blood pressure checked and have blood and urine tests. This is to make sure the salts (calcium, sodium and potassium) in your blood are balanced properly and your kidneys are working well.
How often you'll need these tests will depend on the reason you're taking indapamide, whether your dose has changed recently, whether you get side effects from indapamide, or if you have any other health problems or are taking other medicines.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of indapamide. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.