Diuretics or diuretic tablets are drugs that have a selective effect on the kidneys and, therefore, increase diuresis.
Diuretic drugs have been used in medicine for a long period of time; for more than 50 years, these drugs have been used to treat hypertension and renal pathology. Studies by American scientists have shown that diuretics are not inferior to other groups of antihypertensive drugs in their therapeutic effect.
Diuretic drugs are divided into classes in accordance with the level of drug exposure to the kidneys:
- Group of osmotic diuretics - stimulates mainly water diuresis. The main representative of Monnitol.
- Saluretics are diuretic tablets that enhance the excretion of potassium, sodium and chlorine. Representatives: Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide.
- Potassium-sparing diuretics that provoke increased excretion of sodium from the body and block the excretion of potassium. Representatives: Amiloride, Spironolactone.
The mechanism of action of all diuretic drugs is aimed at reducing the volume of circulating blood in the human body, lowering the excretion of sodium and reducing its reserves in the vascular endothelium, as well as providing direct vasodilating action.
Accordingly, diuretic tablets, getting into the stomach, are absorbed into the bloodstream and into the kidneys with blood flow and act there at different levels of filtration and reabsorption. Due to this, it is possible to influence the diuresis of patients, the level of fluid in the body, and hence the level of blood pressure.
The main indications for the appointment of diuretics are arterial hypertension and heart failure. However, diuretics are also effective in some kidney diseases, intoxication, and heart disease. A light diuretic can be used for some diseases of a urogenital nature or to reduce swelling.
Contraindications to the appointment of diuretics can be considered:
- Gout
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes
- Renal failure (only for thioside and potassium-sparing diuretics).
Diuretic tablets, despite all their positive properties, are not without side effects, which are often the main blocking factor in their appointment.
For loop diuretics:
- hypotension;
- hypopotassemia;
- hyperuricemia
- hypercalcemia;
- ozotemia;
- glucose tolerance.
The group of thioside diuretics and their analogues has much fewer side effects than their predecessors:
- increased potassium concentration;
- increased blood sugar;
- the presence of blood in the urine;
- impotence.
Potassium-sparing diuretic tablets are practically devoid of negative effects, in some cases, impotence and an increase in potassium in the blood can be noted.
It must be remembered that not all drugs combine well with each other. As for diuretics, you need to be very careful with them, because with arterial hypertension, in addition to diuretics, a large number of other antihypertensive drugs are used.
For example, Furosemide in combination with aminoglycoside antibacterial agents increases the ototoxic effect, and in combination with cardiac glycosides it accelerates the formation of a toxic effect. The appointment of Furosemide together with NSAIDs can lead to a decrease in the diuretic effect of the former.
Thioside diuretics are best combined with antihypertensive drugs, because they enhance this effect. However, they are best not to be used together with cardiac glycosides - this can lead to the rapid development of intoxication.
Potassium-sparing diuretics have a positive effect in combination with antihypertensive drugs and negative with NSAIDs and cardiac glycosides.