Acute Pancreatitis, Idiopathic versus Drug-Induced: A Case Report

Thiazides were among the first drugs discovered to be associated with pancreatitis [8]. Although there are several thiazide diuretics currently available, chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide have been the two most commonly used diuretics in major clinical trials [9]. Hydrochlorothiazide was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1959 [10] and it continues to be the most popular in the management of high blood pressure [11]. Chlorthalidone was commonly used in the 1970s, but its use has sharply declined in the past 20 years [12]. It is not known why chlorthalidone has fallen out of favor, however; studies support both hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone as being very effective in the management of high blood pressure [11].