Skin cancer risk included in hydrochlorothiazide label change

A label change for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide has been approved to include a small risk for non-melanoma skin cancer, the FDA announced in a press release.

Hydrochlorothiazide, used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, could have a small risk for adverse reactions, including basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.

The FDA recommended patients taking the medication be counseled to protect their skin from the sun using broad-spectrum sunscreens and protective clothing, as well as limiting their time in the sun, and to undergo regular skin cancer screenings.

The increased risk is mostly for squamous cell carcinoma, an FDA Sentinel Initiative study found.