Chlorthalidone — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
Chlorthalidone: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for edema, glomerulonephritis and heart failure. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Thiazide-Like Diuretic
Treats
Edema, Glomerulonephritis and Heart Failure
Available as
Tablet
Sold as
4 products — Chlorthalidone, Hemiclor and Hygroton, and others
Prescription?
Prescription only
Generic available?
Yes
Typical price
about $3 for a 30-count supply
How chlorthalidone is dosed
From the FDA label for Chlorthalidone (application ANDA087176). Other chlorthalidone products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Therapy should be initiated with the lowest possible dose. This dose should be titrated according to individual patient response to gain maximal therapeutic benefit while maintaining lowest dosage possible. A single dose given in the morning with food is recommended; divided daily doses are unnecessary. Hypertension Initiation: Therapy, in most patients, should be initiated with a single daily dose of 25 mg. If the response is insufficient after a suitable trial, the dosage may be increased to a single daily dose of 50 mg. If additional control is required, the dosage of chlorthalidone may be increased to 100 mg once daily or a second antihypertensive drug (step 2 therapy) may be added. Dosage above 100 mg daily usually does not increase effectiveness. Increases in serum uric acid and decreases in serum potassium are dose-related over the 25 to 100 mg/day range. Maintenance: Maintenance doses may be lower than initial doses and should be adjusted according to individual patient response. Effectiveness is well sustained during continued use. Edema Initiation: Adults, initially 50 to 100 mg daily, or 100 mg on alternate days. Some patients may require 150 to 200 mg at these intervals or up to 200 mg daily. Dosages above this level, however, do not usually produce a greater response. Maintenance: Maintenance doses may often be lower than initial doses and should be adjusted…
Chlorthalidone side effects
The following adverse reactions have been observed, but there is not enough systematic collection of data to support an estimate of their frequency. Gastrointestinal System Reactions: anorexia, gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, jaundice (intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice), pancreatitis. Central Nervous System Reactions: dizziness, vertigo, paresthesias, headache, xanthopsia. Hematologic Reactions: leukopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia. Dermatologic-Hypersensitivity Reactions: purpura, photosensitivity, rash, urticaria, necrotizing angiitis (vasculitis, cutaneous vasculitis), Lyell’s syndrome (toxic epidermal necrolysis). Cardiovascular Reactions: orthostatic hypotension may occur and may be aggravated by alcohol, barbiturates, or narcotics. Other Adverse Reactions: hyperglycemia, glycosuria, hyperuricemia, muscle spasm, weakness, restlessness, impotence. Whenever adverse reactions are moderate or severe, chlorthalidone dosage should be reduced or therapy withdrawn.
Every chlorthalidone product we track (4)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Chlorthalidone is an oral antihypertensive/diuretic. It is a monosulfamyl diuretic that differs chemically from thiazide diuretics in that a double-ring system is incorporated in its structure. It is 2-chloro-5(1-hydroxy- 3-oxo-1- isoindolinyl) benzenesulfonamide with the following structural formula: Molecular Formula: C14H11ClN2O4S Molecular Weight: 338.76 Chlorthalidone, USP is practically insoluble in water, in ether, and in chloroform; soluble in methanol; slightly soluble in ethanol. Chlorthalidone tablets are available containing either 25 mg or 50 mg of chlorthalidone USP and the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate. In addition, the 25 mg yellow tablets contain FD&C Yellow #6 Lake and D&C Yellow #10 Lake. The 50 mg green tablets contain FD&C Blue #1 Lake and D&C Yellow #10 Lake. structure
What kind of drug is chlorthalidone?
The FDA classifies chlorthalidone as a thiazide-like diuretic. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take chlorthalidone with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run chlorthalidone against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is chlorthalidone sold under?
We track 4 chlorthalidone-containing products in the U.S.: Chlorthalidone, Hemiclor, Hygroton and Thalitone. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does chlorthalidone come in?
Across the brands we track, chlorthalidone is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Who shouldn’t take chlorthalidone
Anuria. Known hypersensitivity to chlorthalidone or other sulfonamide-derived drugs.
Chlorthalidone drug interactions
Chlorthalidone may add to or potentiate the action of other antihypertensive drugs. Potentiation occurs with ganglionic peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs. Medication such as digitalis may also influence serum electrolytes. Warning signs, irrespective of cause, are: dryness of mouth, thirst, weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, restlessness, muscle pains or cramps, muscular fatigue, hypotension, oliguria, tachycardia, and gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting. Insulin requirements in diabetic patients may be increased, decreased, or unchanged. Higher dosage of oral hypoglycemic agents may be required. Latent diabetes mellitus may become manifest during chlorthalidone administration. Chlorthalidone and related drugs may increase the responsiveness to tubocurarine. Chlorthalidone and related drugs may decrease arterial responsiveness to norepinephrine. This diminution is not sufficient to preclude effectiveness of the pressor agent for therapeutic use.
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic chlorthalidone product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has chlorthalidone been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions chlorthalidone. The most recent: Chlorthalidone Tablets (Jun 5, 2026). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.