The best time of the day to take the HCTZ is first thing in the morning. That way, you'll go more during the day. The dose you're on is a low dose too, which is protocol for "borderline" hypertension. Keep bananas and orange juice handy in case of muscle cramps. Report any side effects to the doctor.
Something else new I've started; but not consistently yet; orange/banana smoothies.....
not too bad IMO.
If muscles cramps are a common side effect for folks new to this medication,
I haven't experienced any.....yet.
I have however found that in the scant week that I've been taking HCTZ, I need to drink more fluids; water, juices; things with less sugar than I am used to; but I
still have my coffee in the morning and my homemade Lipton iced tea at least once a day; sometimes twice. Coffee and sweet tea are my biggest intakes of sugar now; I don't eat a lot of sweets and I've cut back on the MT. DEW intake
quite a bit. I eat more salty snacks like salted sunflower seeds or OMFG!THESEAREHOT! chips, which have a lot of salt; I just don't eat the whole bag in one sitting anymore.
Since starting these meds last week, I now also "feel like a dish rag;" maybe it's the DT's from a somewhat reduced salt/sugar/MT. DEW/junk food intake. I'm thinking about eating more red meat than I do now; which is not that often; being mindful of fat content. You can only eat so much chicken protein before you start sprouting feathers and besides, you don't need a high beef fat content to make a juicy, tasty burger.