Diuretics
Also referred to as water pills, diuretics are drugs designed to increase water volume in the body and expel sodium as urine. A common condition that these medications treat is elevated blood pressure or hypertension, as they lower the fluid amount in the blood vessels, lowering the blood pressure. They’re also used for heart failure since they can effectively reduce the fluid accumulation and build-up or edema that occurs because of the disease. Doctors may also prescribe diuretics to those with rhabdomyolysis as they can help kidneys function properly.
There are different diuretic medication types – potassium-sparing, thiazide, and loop. Thiazide diuretics are the most common and are used to treat hypertension. Beyond decreasing fluid build-up, they also promote the relaxation of blood vessels. On the other hand, loop diuretics are typically used for treating heart failure. Lastly, potassium-sparing diuretics reduce the fluid amount without compromising on potassium, an essential nutrient the body requires to function.
While these medications are generally well-tolerated, they aren’t without adverse effects. Some of these include an overload or deficiency of potassium, decreased sodium levels, headaches, dizziness, thirst, muscle cramps, elevated cholesterol, gout, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and skin rash, to name a few.
