hemiclor
Hemiclor (Chlorthalidone) is a thiazide-like diuretic used to treat Edema, Glomerulonephritis, Heart Failure, Hypertension.
Chlorthalidone · by Prm Pharma
Available as a generic: Chlorthalidone
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Chlorthalidone
- Drug class
- Thiazide-Like Diuretic
- Form
- Tablet
- Strength
- Chlorthalidone 12.5MG
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- edema, glomerulonephritis, heart failure
- Manufacturer
- Prm Pharma
- Half-life
- about 40 hours on average (the label reports a mean half-life of 40 hours after a 50–200 mg dose, and an elimination half-life of 53 hours after 50 mg and 60 hours after 100 mg) (how long it stays in your system)
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$2.67 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA218647
What is Hemiclor?
From the FDA label:HEMICLOR (chlorthalidone) is an antihypertensive/diuretic supplied as 12.5 mg tablets for oral use. Chlorthalidone is a monosulfamyl diuretic that differs chemically from thiazide diuretics in that a double ring system is incorporated in its structure. It is a racemic mixture of 2-chloro-5-(1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1-isoindolinyl) benzenesulfonamide, with the following structural formula: Molecular Formula: C 14 H 11 ClN 2 O 4 S Molecular Weight: 338.8 g/mol Chlorthalidone is practically insoluble in water, soluble in acetone and in methanol, slightly soluble in 96% ethanol, practically insoluble in dichloromethane. It dissolves in diluted solutions of alkali hydroxides. Each HEMICLOR tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: calcium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch and sodium starch glycolate. structure
How to use
The recommended starting dose is 12.5 mg or 25 mg orally once daily ( 2.1 ). Dose may be doubled after 2 to 4 weeks as needed based on individual response, up to a maximal dose of 100 mg once daily ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage Therapy should be initiated with the lowest possible dose. The recommended adult initial dose of HEMICLOR is 12.5 mg or 25 mg given orally with food once daily. Double the dosage every 2 to 4 weeks as needed based on individual patient response, up to a maximum of 100 mg once daily. Dosage above 100 mg daily usually does not increase effectiveness.
Side effects
The following adverse reactions are described in more detail elsewhere in the label; Acute Kidney Injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Electrolyte Abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Metabolic Disturbances [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] The following adverse reactions have been observed with chlorthalidone, 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, paresthesias, headache. 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 Reaction: Orthostatic hypotension. Other Adverse Reactions: muscle spasm, weakness, restlessness, impotence, xanthopsia. The most frequently expected adverse drug reactions among patients receiving thiazide-like diuretics are electrolyte abnormalities and metabolic disturbances ( 6 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Ingenus Pharmaceuticals, LLC at 1-877-748-1970 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or…
Warnings
Important safety information
Acute Kidney Injury: Patients with pre-existing kidney disease may be at higher risk. ( 5.1 ). Electrolyte Abnormalities: Monitor serum electrolytes periodically ( 5.2 ). Metabolic Disturbances ( 5.3 ). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ( 5.4 ). 5.1 Acute Kidney Injury Monitor kidney function periodically. Diuretics can cause hypovolemia which may precipitate acute kidney injury. Patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, or volume depletion may be at particular risk of developing acute renal failure on Chlorthalidone. Consider withholding or discontinuing therapy in patients who develop a clinically significant decrease in kidney function while on chlorthalidone. 5.2 Electrolyte Abnormalities Chlorthalidone can cause hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremic alkalosis, and hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia can result in hypokalemia which appears difficult to treat despite potassium repletion. Hypokalemia is dose dependent. Monitor and correct serum electrolytes prior to use and monitor periodically. 5.3 Metabolic Disturbances Chlorthalidone may increase blood sugar levels, affect diabetes control, and cause changes in the need for diabetes medication. Chlorthalidone may raise serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Monitor blood sugar and lipid levels. Chlorthalidone may raise the serum uric acid level due to reduced clearance of uric acid and may cause or exacerbate hyperuricemia and precipitate gout in susceptible patients. Increases in serum uric acid are dose related. Chlorthalidone decreases urinary calcium excretion and may cause elevations of serum calcium. Monitor calcium levels in patients with hypercalcemia receiving Chlorthalidone. 5.4 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus The possibility of exacerbation or activation of systemic lupus erythematosus has been reported with thiazide diuretics, which are structurally related to chlorthalidone. However, systemic lupus erythematosus has not been reported following chlorthalidone administration.
Who should not take Hemiclor
Chlorthalidone is contraindicated in patients with anuria, or hypersensitivity to chlorthalidone or other sulfonamide-derived drugs. Anuria ( 4 ). Hypersensitivity to chlorthalidone or other sulfonamide-derived drugs ( 4 ).
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Symptoms of acute overdosage include nausea, weakness, dizziness and disturbances of electrolyte balance. The oral LD50 of the drug in the mouse and the rat is more than 25,000 mg/kg body weight. The minimum lethal dose (MLD) in humans has not been established. There is no specific antidote but gastric lavage is recommended, followed by supportive treatment. Where necessary, this may include intravenous dextrose-saline with potassium, administered with caution.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
Effect of chlorthalidone on other drugs Insulin requirements in diabetic patients may be increased, decreased or unchanged. Higher dosage of oral hypoglycemic agents may be required. Chlorthalidone may increase the responsiveness to tubocurarine. Chlorthalidone may decrease arterial responsiveness to norepinephrine. This diminution is not sufficient to preclude effectiveness of the pressor agent for therapeutic use. Lithium renal clearance is reduced by chlorthalidone, increasing the risk of lithium toxicity. Monitor serum lithium levels during concomitant use. Insulin requirements and oral hypoglycemic agent dosages may require adjustments ( 7 ). Possible increased responsiveness to tubocurarine ( 7 ). Possible decreased arterial responsiveness to norepinephrine ( 7 ). Lithium renal clearance is reduced by chlorthalidone, increasing the risk of lithium toxicity ( 7 ).
How long does Chlorthalidone stay in your body?
The elimination half-life of chlorthalidone is about 40 hours on average (the label reports a mean half-life of 40 hours after a 50–200 mg dose, and an elimination half-life of 53 hours after 50 mg and 60 hours after 100 mg) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is an older-format label (CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, not a PLR §12.3), and it gives its numbers in two ways: a mean half-life of 40 hours across the 50–200 mg dose range, and dose-specific elimination half-lives of 53 hours (50 mg) and 60 hours (100 mg). Only one phase is described, so the figures above are the elimination values the label states — it does not report a separate distribution phase. No active metabolite is described: the label says chlorthalidone is largely excreted unchanged by the kidneys and that data on metabolites and non-renal elimination routes "have yet to be clarified." It is not a prodrug. Do not confuse the half-life with the duration of diuretic effect — the label describes diuresis beginning in about 2.6 hours and continuing up to 72 hours, which is a different measure. The label does NOT quantify how the half-life changes with age, kidney impairment, or liver impairment; it gives no geriatric or renal/hepatic pharmacokinetic numbers. It does warn that cumulative effects of the drug may develop in patients with impaired renal function, and to use caution in severe renal disease and in impaired hepatic function — but it does not state a half-life for those groups, so no number should be inferred for them.
This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: DailyMed — CHLORTHALIDONE tablet (Clinical Pharmacology).
Drug class
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Hemiclor ranks — best-rated thiazide-like diuretic for:
Dosage forms
Tablet
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Hemiclor treat?
- Hemiclor (Chlorthalidone) may be used to treat edema, glomerulonephritis, heart failure, hypertension, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How much does Hemiclor cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $2.67 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Hemiclor?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Hemiclor. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Hemiclor?
- Hemiclor is marketed by Prm Pharma. You can see Prm Pharma's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Hemiclor a brand-name or generic drug?
- Hemiclor is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Chlorthalidone. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Chlorthalidone are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Hemiclor available over the counter?
- No. Hemiclor is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Hemiclor come in?
- Hemiclor is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Hemiclor?
- Hemiclor is classified as thiazide-like diuretic, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Hemiclor FDA-registered?
- Hemiclor is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA218647. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Hemiclor safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Hemiclor. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Hemiclor?
- Hemiclor's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following adverse reactions are described in more detail elsewhere in the label; Acute Kidney Injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Electrolyte Abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Metabolic Disturbances [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] The following adverse reactions… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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