Swelling on the face is an unpleasant and ugly manifestation that is almost impossible to disguise. They usually appear in the morning and cause a lot of inconvenience. There are several ways to fix the problem. The most effective of them is to take a diuretic. The use of diuretic drugs in case of facial edema not only helps to get rid of an unpleasant symptom, but also causes side effects. To avoid unnecessary problems, the choice of funds should be approached carefully.
What is edema and what is it dangerous?
Excess fluid in the tissues and serous cavities of the body with an increase in tissue volume, a change in turgor, elasticity is called edema. It happens local - the fluid balance is disturbed in a limited area - or general - changes in the water balance throughout the body.
Edema is not just ugly, it is a symptom of various pathological conditions. Edematous tissue is easily infected, as a result of which complications develop during the underlying disease, which caused a violation of the normal excretion of fluid from the tissues.
Causes of edema
Violation of the water balance almost always occurs due to excessive delay by the kidneys of sodium. The occurrence of local edema is a violation in the local tissues of the processes of water exchange through the capillary system. There are many factors affecting the imbalance of fluid in the body:
- diseases of various systems, most often urinary and cardiovascular;
- allergy;
- deficiency of sodium, potassium, calcium caused by diets or "therapeutic" starvation;
- intoxication;
- insect bites;
- local inflammatory processes (flux, lymphadenitis);
- violation of the integrity of the tissue (trauma);
- pregnancy.
There are different ways to get rid of puffiness. The most effective is the use of diuretics in case of swelling of the face and legs. Unlike other methods, diuretics eliminate an unpleasant symptom quickly and for a long time.
Diuretic drugs
Diuretic (diuretic) drugs - natural or synthetic drugs that help reduce fluid in the tissues and connective tissue membrane of the cavities due to reabsorption of water, salts and increase their excretion in urine.
Diuretics are used in the treatment of arterial hypertension, cardiovascular pathologies, and edematous syndrome. Medications are selected depending on the degree of disturbance of the water-electrolyte balance and the risk of possible complications that it can cause. In the treatment of diseases, powerful agents are used, with swelling of the face - soft diuretics. Diuretics are sold freely, without a prescription, you can independently decide which remedy is more suitable.
What diuretics are most often used for edema?
The pharmacological market offers a wide selection of diuretics. All of them contribute to an increase in the separation of urine and salts due to interaction with different departments of nephrons (structural unit of the kidney). Types of diuretics used for facial edema:
- Loop diuretics act throughout the segment of the knee segment of the Gangle loop. Possess secondary effects, high bioavailability. The diuretic effect is pronounced, short-term. The medicinal effect occurs after 15-30 minutes, depending on the specific drug.
- Derivatives of benzothiadiazine reduce the total volume of intracellular fluid and blood plasma. The diuretic effect develops 2 hours after ingestion and lasts up to 3 days. When using thiazides, it is not necessary to limit salt intake, the drug removes fluid from the body so well.
- Potassium-sparing diuretics prevent the retention of sodium and water and inhibit the potassium-excreting effect.
- Derivatives of sulfonamide reduce the reabsorption of sodium and potassium ions, without affecting the excretion of potassium, increase the acidity of urine.
Loop diuretics: features of application
Diuretics acting on the cortical segment of the Henle loop are called loop. The use of loop diuretics for facial swelling allows you to quickly and permanently fix the problem.
- Furosemide is a diuretic with natriuretic properties. It acts quickly and effectively, but has many side effects. To eliminate the edematous syndrome, they drink 1-2 tablets per day.
- "Torasemide" reduces the pressure of intracellular fluid and the reverse absorption of water from the body cavities. "Torasemide" is less than "Furosemide" contributes to the occurrence of hypokalemia, but it is more active and its effect is longer. Tablets are taken 1 time in 24 hours.
Thiazides
Derivatives of benzothiazine are considered highly effective diuretics in edema. Thiazides reduce calcium secretion and increase sodium production. As a result, the exchange of sodium for potassium enzymes increases significantly, and it is intensely excreted from the body. Thiazide diuretics do not act as aggressively on the body as the loop group, respectively, and the duration of their action is slightly less. For edema, the following thiazides are recommended:
- "Oxodoline" - diuretic tablets containing 0.05 g of chlortalidone. Cause a decrease in blood pressure. People with hypotension should take the drug carefully. With edematous syndrome, take 2 tablets every other day.
- Arifon is a diuretic antihypertensive drug. The active substance is indapamide. A diuretic is considered effective in the treatment of edematous syndrome in patients with heart failure.
Potassium-sparing diuretics
The peculiarity of these funds is that they, like other diuretics, increase sodium excretion, but reduce potassium excretion. Potassium-sparing diuretics are considered relatively harmless diuretics. With edema, this particular group of drugs is recommended. They are prescribed for pregnant women who have problems with the natural excretion of fluid from the body. By the strength and duration of action, they are much inferior to loopback, but they do not cause hypokalemia. With edema, the following drugs are taken:
- "Moduretic". Take 1-2 tablets per day. Pharmacological activity occurs 2 hours after administration, the effect persists for a day.
- "Veroshpiron" - a diuretic, a long-acting aldosterone antagonist. If swelling does not subside immediately, this does not indicate a poor weak effect of the drug, a diuretic effect may appear after a few hours. Veroshpiron is approved for use from 3 years. It is recommended to drink no more than two capsules per day.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Derivatives of sulfonamide as diuretics for edema of the face are used infrequently. The tool refers to weak-acting diuretics, but it has less negative effects on the body. The most famous carbonic anhydrase inhibitors:
- "Diacarb" is a diuretic with acetazolamide as an active substance. Take one tablet. If puffiness does not subside, the dose may be increased, but not more than 4 tablets per day.
- "Acetazolamide" is a diuretic that has an antiepileptic, antiglaucoma effect. The tool has a weak, but lasting effect.
What diuretic drugs for edema are considered harmless
Pharmacies offer a huge selection of a variety of diuretic drugs. Diuretics are dispensed without a prescription and a person can choose a remedy on their own. One of the main criteria when choosing a medicine is its safety.
Most modern diuretics cause a decrease in the concentration of potassium in the blood. With hypokalemia, the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, water-electrolyte balance, acid-base balance are disturbed. Very soon, this leads to dystrophic changes in the heart muscle and smooth muscles of the intestine. This prospect does not appeal to anyone, because more and more preference is given to diuretics of natural origin.
Plant-based diuretics do not have an aggressive effect on the body, practically do not have side effects. But they also have flaws. With facial edema, harmless diuretics on a natural basis may not give a quick effect.
Popular plant-based diuretics:
- "Kanefron" is a combined diuretic agent of natural origin, which also has antispasmodic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The drug is approved for use from one year.
- “Phytolysin” is a powerful diuretic based on squeezing goldenrod grass and horsetail. The drug also has nephrolitholytic and antispasmodic properties. Diuretic is contraindicated in pregnant women and persons under 18 years of age.
The best diuretics for edema
Diuretics are the most effective way to get rid of puffiness. Those who have a similar problem regularly know which drugs should be preferred. Those with edema are a rare occurrence and have difficulty choosing a diuretic. In such cases, various lists help in which a good product has already been selected.
Rating of the best diuretics for edema of the face:
- "Torasemide" is a diuretic with the same active substance. The product begins to act 20 minutes after application and has a lasting effect.
- Ureghit is a loop diuretic. The active substance is ethacrylic acid. The dosage of the tablets is selected individually, but not more than 4 tablets per day. "Uregit" is approved for use from 2 years.
- “Triampur compositum” is a diuretic, antihypertensive agent. The active substance is triamteren and hydrochlorothiazide. Tablets take 1 pc. per day in the morning.
- "Fitonephrol" is a urological collection of bearberry leaves, marigold flowers. The drug has a diuretic, antimicrobial, antispasmodic effect. The collection is pre-brewed at the rate of 10 g of the mixture per 200 ml of water and take a third glass three times a day before meals.
- "Moduretic" is a potassium-sparing diuretic with natriuretic, antihypertensive properties. The active substance of the drug is amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide. The tool is prohibited for use by children and pregnant women.
- "Kanefrol" is a natural herbal product, available in the form of a solution and tablets, with practically no contraindications. To remove puffiness, it is recommended to take 25 drops of the solution or 2 tablets 3 times a day until the swelling is eliminated. During the intake should drink more liquid.
Prevention
No matter how gentle the diuretic preparations are, in case of swelling of the face or limbs, their use should be resorted to as a last resort. Excess fluid in tissues and cavities does not occur spontaneously. Edema is a consequence, the cause should be eliminated.
The accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the skin in most cases is a symptom of a pathological process or condition. It is necessary to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. Edema is usually a manifestation of the early stages of the disease that have a positive prognosis. Even if there are no pathologies, then it will not be out of place to change the way of life, take steps to improve health. You need to consume foods low in salt, drink green tea, get enough sleep.
If the cause of edema is allergic, sources and substances to which hypersensitivity is to be avoided should be taken antihistamines.
Diuretic Reviews
Perhaps everyone faced the problem of edema. The unpleasant manifestation and methods for its elimination are actively discussed on forums and in social networks. Most disputes are about which particular diuretics are harmless in case of facial edema. In the reviews, users talk in detail about their experience with the use of certain means and about the consequences. For some, the main thing is efficiency, while others believe that, first of all, it is necessary to take into account what harm the funds can cause.