Diuretics

Diuretics, also called drinking water supplements, are a frequent procedure for large blood strain. Locate out how they operate and when you may possibly require them.

By Mayo Clinic Employees

Diuretics, in some cases called water capsules, help rid your entire body of salt (sodium) and water. Most of these medications aid your kidneys release extra sodium into your urine. The sodium helps get rid of water from your blood, lowering the quantity of fluid flowing by way of your veins and arteries. This decreases blood stress.

Examples of diuretics

There are a few kinds of diuretics:

  • Thiazide
  • Loop
  • Potassium sparing

Each form of diuretic has an effect on a distinctive component of your kidneys. Some capsules mix much more than 1 kind of diuretic or incorporate a diuretic with a further blood pressure medicine.

Which diuretic is most effective for you depends on your wellbeing and the issue becoming taken care of.

Illustrations of thiazide diuretics taken by mouth include:

  • Chlorothiazide
  • Chlorthalidone
  • Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Indapamide
  • Metolazone

Examples of loop diuretics consist of:

  • Bumetanide (Bumex)
  • Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
  • Furosemide (Lasix)
  • Torsemide (Soaanz)

Examples of potassium-sparing diuretics incorporate:

  • Amiloride (Midamor)
  • Eplerenone (Inspra)
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir)
  • Triamterene (Dyrenium)

When diuretics are made use of

Thiazide diuretics are advisable as one of the initially drug treatment plans for superior blood stress.

If diuretics aren’t ample to reduce your blood pressure, your medical professional may well include other blood strain prescription drugs to your procedure approach.

Diuretics are also made use of to prevent, take care of or increase signs or symptoms in individuals who have:

  • Coronary heart failure
  • Liver failure
  • Tissue inflammation (edema)
  • Certain kidney diseases, this kind of as kidney stones

Aspect consequences

Diuretics are frequently harmless. Aspect effects include things like enhanced urination and sodium loss.

Diuretics can also have an impact on blood potassium stages. If you consider a thiazide diuretic, your potassium amount can fall much too lower (hypokalemia), which can trigger lifetime-threatening difficulties with your heartbeat. If you’re on a potassium-sparing diuretic, you can have as well considerably potassium in your blood.

Other feasible aspect outcomes of diuretics contain:

  • Dizziness
  • Head aches
  • Dehydration
  • Muscle cramps
  • Joint disorders (gout)
  • Impotence