What Is Indapamide Used For?

Indapamide is used for the treatment of high blood pressure and fluid retention caused by congestive heart failure. The medication can help with water retention and lower blood pressure by increasing the amount of salt and water that the kidneys remove from the blood. At this time, the drug is not approved for use in children, and there are no universally accepted off-label indapamide uses.

Indapamide Uses: An Overview

Indapamide (Lozol^®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat a couple of conditions. These specific indapamide uses include the treatment of:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Water retention (edema) caused by congestive heart failure (CHF).

Indapamide for High Blood Pressure

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example: 120/80. The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90, with multiple blood pressure readings.

In clinical studies, indapamide has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. By lowering blood pressure, indapamide can decrease the risk of developing health problems (such as a stroke, heart disease, or congestive heart failure) that occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). Indapamide is not a cure for high blood pressure.

Indapamide for Water Retention

One common cause of water retention is congestive heart failure (CHF). Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. It does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should. This can lead to symptoms of CHF that include shortness of breath; swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs; and rapid weight gain (see Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure for more information).

Indapamide can help with water retention due to CHF by helping the body get rid of the extra fluid. It does not, however, cure congestive heart failure.

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