Diuretic

A chemical which makes you piss more. Some examples are alcohol, tannin, and caffeine. If you consume diuretics, you should drink water so that you do not become dehydrated.

Don't confuse a diuretic with a diarrhetic, which is a person who has diarrhea.

Diuretics are medications that are used when there is too much fluid in the body, as in congestive heart failure, hypertension, or other conditions which cause retention of water in the tissues causing edema. Some diuretics also decrease the pressure inside the eye by decreasing production of the aqueous humor, the liquid that fills the eye. Diuretics pull fluids into the bloodstream and/or stimulate their excretion by the kidneys, therefore taking diuretics leads directly to pissing like a racehorse. In recent years, diuretics have become popular with the eating disorder crowd, who see them as a fabulous way to lose weight fast. Sorry, folks, it doesn’t work and is VERY dangerous to your health.

Diuretics

Brand/Generic Drug Names

HCTZ/hydrochlorothiazide, Lozol/indapamide, Naturetin/bendroflumethiazide, Duril/chlorothiazide, Zaroxolyn/metolazone, Bumex/bumetanide, Lasix/Furosemide, Diamox/acetazolamide, Edecrin/ethacrynic acid, Midamor/amiloride, Aldactone/spironolactone, Dyrenium/triamterene, Osmitrol/mannitol, Ureaphil/urea

Common uses

hypertension, congestive heart failure, glaucoma

Pharmacology

Thiazides/thiazide-like diuretics: increase excretion of water and sodium by inhibiting resorption in the early distal tubule
Loop diuretics: inhibit resorption of sodium and chloride in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: increase sodium excretion by decreasing sodium/hydrogen ion exchange throughout the renal tubule; also decrease secretion of aqueous humor in the eye, decreasing intraocular pressure
Osmotic diuretics: increase osmotic pressure of glomerular filtrate, decreasing net absorption of sodium
Potassium-sparing diuretics: interfere with sodium resorption at the distal tubule, decreasing potassium excretion

Class contraindications

electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, anuria

Class precautions

elderly, hepatic and renal disease

Interactions

decreased absorption: cholestyramine, cholestipol
Diazoxide: increased hyperuricemia, hyperglycemia and antihypertensive effect
Ototoxicity: aminoglycosides
Lithium: increased lithium effect and toxicity

Adverse Reactions

hypokalemia, hyperuricemia, hyperglycemia, aplastic anemia, blood dyscrasias, volume depletion, dehydration

Additional Information

Assess intake and output, daily weights, vital signs for orthostatic hypotension
Assess electrolytes, BUN, creatinine, glucose, CBC
Monitor for signs and symptoms of metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia
Administer in morning to avoid sleep disturbance
Administer potassium supplement if ordered
Evaluate therapeutic response: decreased edema, blood pressure, intraocular pressure

Date of most recent Update

August 29, 2002

Further information is available in the writeup for the specific name(s) of this medication class

Di`u*ret"ic (?), a. [L. diureticus, Gr. , fr. to make water; through + to make water, fr. urine: cf. F. diur'etique.] Med.

Tending to increase the secretion and discharge of urine.

--

n.

A medicine with diuretic properties.

Diuretic salt Med., potassium acetate; -- so called because of its diuretic properties.

 

© Webster 1913.