Patient leaflet - Bendroflumethiazide tablets 5.0 mg

1. What Bendroflumethiazide Tablets are and what they are used for

The name of your medicine is Bendroflumethiazide Tablets. The active ingredient in your medicine is bendroflumethiazide. This medicine belongs to a group of drugs known as thiazide diuretics (water tablets). This medicine is used to reduce fluid retention (oedema) caused by heart, liver or kidney conditions by increasing the flow of urine. It is also used to treat high blood pressure, either alone or in combination with other drugs which lower blood pressure. It stops the production of breast milk.

2. What you need to know before you take Bendroflumethiazide Tablets

Do not take Bendroflumethiazide Tablets if you have:

an allergy to bendroflumethiazide or to any of the other ingredients (see section 6) Addison’s disease (a disorder where the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones, symptoms include weakness, loss of energy, low blood pressure and dark pigmentation of the skin)
low blood levels of sodium (hyponatraemia) or of potassium (hypokalaemia)
high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)
high levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricaemia) causing symptoms of gout i.e. pain in the joints severe kidney or liver function problems or you are unable to pass water (urine).
are taking lithium carbonate

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Bendroflumethiazide Tablets if you have:

If you experience a decrease in vision or eye pain. These could be symptoms of fluid accumulation in the vascular layer of the eye (choroidal effusion) or an increase of pressure in your eye and can happen within hours to a week of taking Bendroflumethiazide Tablets. This can lead to permanent vision loss, if not treated. If you earlier have had a penicillin or sulfonamide allergy, you can be at higher risk of developing this. Take special care with Bendroflumethiazide Tablets if you

diabetes. If you are taking insulin, your doctor may need to adjust your insulin dosage
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or have a history of this condition (an allergic condition which causes joint pain, skin rashes and fever).
liver disease (cirrhosis), including that caused by alcohol
mild to moderate kidney or liver disease as your doctor may wish to monitor you more frequently
if you suffer from gout or suspected gout
suffer from a condition known as hyponatraemia (low blood levels of sodium), particularly if you are elderly
have low levels of magnesium in your blood
an inherited disorder of the red blood pigment haemoglobin causing skin blisters, abdominal pain and brain or nervous system disorders (porphyria)
have taken high doses of Bendroflumethiazide Tablets or have taken the tablets for a long time, or if you have severe heart disease or are taking digitalis preparations (e.g. digoxin). Your doctor may decide you need to take potassium supplement tablets
are seriously ill
suffer from pancreatitis
have severe asthma and are taking medicines called beta-agonists; these include salbutamol, terbutaline, formosterol and salmetrol. If you are elderly or have taken Bendroflumethiazide Tablets for a long time, your doctor will perform regular blood tests to check the levels of electrolytes (salts) in your blood.

Other medicines and Bendroflumethiazide Tablets

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking these tablets if you are taking other medicines, including any that you can buy without a prescription. This is especially important if you are taking:

any medicines for treatment of asthma including sympathomimetics (bambuterol, fenoterol, formoterol, reproterol, ritodrine, salbutamol, salmeterol, terbutaline, tulobuterol) or theophylline
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for relieving pain and inflammation e.g. ibuprofen, indometacin, piroxicam and naproxen or ketorolac medicines containing opiates, used for the relief of pain e.g. codeine, morphine
any other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, such as alpha blockers e.g. prazosin, and calcium channel blockers e.g. amlodipine, diltiazem
medicines for heart problems including beta blockers (especially sotalol) and cardiac glycosides e.g. Digoxin
medicines to control irregular heart beat especially amiodarone, disopyramide, flecainide, lidocaine, mexiletine, quinidine, sotalol, nitrates and cardiac glycosides.
medicines to treat depression and mental illness such as lithium, tricyclic antidepressants or reboxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), reboxetine, pimozide, sertindole, barbiturates and phenothiazines.
any other diuretic medicines “water tablets” (including acetazolamide and loop diuretics which can also be used to treat glaucoma)
sulfonylurea medicines for diabetes especially chlorpropamide and insulin
corticosteroids such as prednisolone
oestrogens or progesterones (as present in oral contraceptives or HRT)
medicines called prostaglandins, such as alprostadil (for impotence)
aminoglutethimide (used in some cancers and Cushing’s syndrome)
amphotericin (used to treat fungal infections)
medicines used as dietary supplements, such as calcium salts or Vitamin D
carbamazepine or barbiturates e.g. phenobarbital (used in epilepsy)
carbenoxolone (used for stomach ulcers)
cisplatin (used to treat cancer) or toremifene (for breast cancer). Cisplatin can lead to an increased risk of toxicity in the kidneys (nephrotoxicity) and ear (ototoxicity)
colestyramine and colestipol (used to lower blood cholesterol)
pimozide (used to treat mental illness)
medicines called vasodilators such as moxisylyte (for Raynaud’s syndrome)
medicines, called antihistamines, such as terfenadine and astemizole (used in allergies)
baclofen, tubocurarine or tizanidine, gallamine, alcuronium or pancuronium (muscle relaxants)
corticotropin hormone.
general anaesthetics, levodopa (treatment of Parkinson’s disease)
trimethoprim (antibiotic to treat bacterial infection)
take any medicines called nitrates
if you are receiving adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) hormone allopurinol (used in gout), halofantrine (used to treat malaria)
antihypertensive agents (used to treat high blood pressure) such as enalapril, losartan and methyldopa

Bendroflumethiazide Tablets and alcohol

Alcohol consumption should be kept to a minimum as this medicine increases the likelihood of dehydration after drinking alcohol. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

Bendroflumethiazide is not recommended for use in pregnant or breast-feeding women. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Bendroflumethiazide Tablets should not normally affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. If you find that you do get drowsy, dizziness and mental confusion, do not drive or operate machinery.

Product: Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg & 5mg Tablets

Process Black

Amendment Date: 12/03/26

Bendroflumethiazide Tablets contain Lactose:

This medicine contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

Tests

Your doctor may want to carry out regular blood tests during your treatment with this medicine, to check your kidney function and to monitor the levels of potassium and other salts, as this medicine may lead to an imbalance of salts/chemicals in your blood (see Section 4 “Possible Side Effects” for symptoms of this disorder). This may be the case especially if you are elderly or are taking the medicine long term. Bendroflumethiazide may interfere with a number of laboratory test including estimation of serum protein- bound iodine and tests of parathyroid function.

3. How to take Bendroflumethiazide Tablets

The tablets should be taken with a drink of water in the morning. The usual doses are given below but your doctor will decide the dose that is best for you. The pharmacist’s label will tell you how many tablets to take and how often. If you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Adults

For fluid retention: Initially 5 mg to 10 mg once a day in the morning or on alternate days. The maintenance dose is 5-10 mg two or three times a week.

For high blood pressure: 2.5 mg to 5 mg once a day in the morning.

Suppression of breast milk: The usual dose is 5mg taken in the morning and 5mg taken at midday. Treatment usually lasts for approximately five days.

Children

Initially 400 micrograms per kilograms of body weight, a day. The maintenance dose is 50-100 micrograms per kilograms of body weight a day. Elderly

Your doctor may have prescribed you a lower dose than the usual adult dose, particularly if you have problems with your kidney function. If you take more Bendroflumethiazide Tablets than you should

If you think you have taken too many tablets, contact your doctor straight away or go to the nearest hospital casualty department even if there are no signs of discomfort. Take with you any remaining tablets and the pack so that the medicine can be identified.

Symptoms of an overdose include feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, dehydration, dizziness, weakness, muscle cramps, increase in the frequency and amount of urination, thirst, decreased volume within blood vessels, low blood pressure, circulation problems (peripheral circulatory failure), low blood levels of potassium (hypokalaemia) and sodium (hyponatraemia), low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) and central nervous system depression (drowsiness, tiredness and coma). Treatment for overdosing involves fluid and electrolyte replacement.

If you forget to take Bendroflumethiazide Tablets

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with the regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

If you stop taking Bendroﬂumethiazide Tablets

Do not stop taking Bendroﬂumethiazide Tablets without seeking medical advice ﬁrst.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you suffer from any of the following at any time during your treatment STOP TAKING the medicine and contact your doctor IMMEDIATELY as these are serious effects:

severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) affecting the skin such as rashes, severe itching, peeling or blistering, sensitivity to light, difficulty breathing and/or swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
allergic reactions affecting the lungs causing inflammation of the lung tissue or fluid on the lungs signs include cough, difficulty breathing, tiredness, fever, sweating
yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes,
you experience any unusual bruising, nose bleeds, feel unusually tired, have a sore throat; these may be signs of a blood disorder, including anaemia

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer from any of the following other effects:

changes to the salts/chemicals in your blood especially of potassium, chloride, sodium, calcium and magnesium. Symptoms include mild loss of appetite, thirst, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, muscle weakness, twitching, cramps, dizziness, abnormal heart rhythm, confusion, tiredness, fits
inability to get an erection (reversible once your treatment with Bendroflumethiazide tablets has finished)
gout or worsening of gout
diarrhoea and occasionally indigestion feeling faint on standing up
increase in amount and frequency of urination
inflammation of the pancreas
worsening of existing diabetes. Like other water tablets, Bendroflumethiazide Tablets may occasionally affect the level of sugar in the blood.
High level of calcium in the blood, with the frequency ‘Not known’
Decrease in vision or pain in your eyes due to high pressure (possible signs of ﬂuid accumulation in the vascular layer of the eye (choroidal eﬀusion) or acute angle-closure glaucoma) (Postural hypotension), dizziness, headache, pins and needles (paraesthesia), drowsiness, dry mouth, thirst, inﬂammation of the gallbladder, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), decreased urine production (oliguria), high levels of uric acid in blood (hyperuricaemia) with/without gout, feeling confused, ﬁts (seizures), inﬂammation of blood vessels, often with skin rash (vasculitis), changes in the salts and electrolytes in your blood (shown in blood tests), an increase in the levels of certain types of lipids and cholesterol in your blood (shown in blood tests), pale stools, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), inﬂammation of the kidney which can cause you to have a fever or to pass more or less urine than normal, severe pain in the lower back or sides (kidney stones), prolonged bleeding from cuts, sore mouth, fever, sore throat, chills, mouth ulcers.

Not known: Frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

High level of calcium in the blood

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Bendroflumethiazide Tablets

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the pack. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Keep the tablets in the pack provided. Do not store above 25°C.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Bendroflumethiazide Tablets contains

Bendroflumethiazide tablets are available in two strengths and contain either 2.5mg or 5mg of bendroflumethiazide as the active ingredient. They also contain the following other ingredients: lactose, maize starch, pregelatinised maize starch and magnesium stearate. What Bendroflumethiazide Tablets look like and contents of the pack

Bendroflumethiazide Tablets 2.5mg are white, round tablets engraved with the company logo on one side and “A268” on the other. Bendroflumethiazide Tablets 5mg are white, round tablets engraved with the company logo on one side and “C218” with a breakline on the other side. The tablets are available in packs of 28, 30, 42, 56, 60, 84, 90, 112 or 500. (Not all pack sizes may be marketed). Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Crescent Pharma Ltd., Key House, Sarum Hill, Basingstoke, RG21 8SR, UK.

This leaflet was last revised in March 2026.

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