To get rid of accumulated excess fluid and lowering blood pressure, diuretics (diuretics) and drugs that strengthen and elasticize the vascular walls are widely used in modern medicine. Any such medicine for leg edema is prescribed depending on the size of the swelling and on what caused it to appear. These may be problems with the kidneys, liver, or heart. Diuretics make the kidneys work more actively and thereby help to remove accumulated fluid from the body, which, accordingly, reduces swelling, lowers blood pressure and improves the patient's condition.
About the action of diuretics
Diuretics relieve the body of accumulated fluid, and this is often used by athletes to gain weight before the competition and “dry” the muscles. The diuretic power of drugs is also widely used for weight loss.
True, doctors strongly recommend that diuretics not be treated too freely. After all, the danger that a cure for leg edema can have a negative effect on the body is real and lies in the peculiarities of their action. The fact is that a diuretic is able to provoke the withdrawal of not only excess fluid, but also useful components - potassium, chlorine, magnesium and other important substances.
The main groups of diuretics
Depending on their action, all diuretics are divided into 3 main groups:
- thiazide (the effect of taking is observed after 4 hours and lasts about 12 hours),
- potassium-sparing (help remove excess fluid, while not removing potassium),
- loopback.
The latter have the most powerful effect, and although its duration is short, these drugs are used only once, not using courses.
In addition to those named as an effective medicine against leg edema, medicinal herbs with a diuretic effect are also actively used. In addition, they are safer and cheaper than synthetic drugs.
What can be dangerous diuretics
If the drug is taken for a long time and uncontrollably, then the sodium-potassium balance is disturbed in the body, which increases the patient's fatigue. In this case, blood cholesterol levels may increase, which threatens the development of diabetes. And besides this, prolonged use of the described drugs can cause calcium retention and, as a result, the deposition of salts in the joints.
Uncontrolled diuretic medications for swelling of the legs can cause thrombosis, thromboembolism, interstitial nephritis, acute urinary retention, and so on. In men, they provoke problems with potency. New-generation drugs like Indapamine or Torasemide have much less effect on metabolism, but even if abused, they can be harmful.
Do not prescribe them yourself, because these funds do not eliminate the cause of the disease, but only relieve its manifestations, and no matter how much you struggle with the symptoms, the ailment will remain with you. Only a specialist can truly fight it, identifying the true causes and prescribing adequate treatment.
What diuretics are used for various diseases
Diuretics help well with congestion and, as already mentioned, contribute to lowering blood pressure. Such drugs include Furosemide, Diacarb, Lasix, Veroshpiron, etc. They, however, are not prescribed for a long time, since the daily intake of these potent medicines is addictive and, as a result, the therapeutic effect is weakened, but in acute conditions, they are very effective.
What medications to take for leg swelling in case of existing diabetes mellitus or varicose veins, only a specialist should decide. With such pathologies, diuretics can do much more than help, since the cause of swelling in this case lies in the high permeability of the vascular walls and a decrease in their elasticity. As a rule, these patients are prescribed medications that can strengthen blood vessels and normalize venous circulation: Detralex, Venorin, Dioflan, Troxerutin, Ascorutin, etc.
These drugs relate to angioprotectors and venotonics, and their regular intake increases vascular tone, at the same time reducing congestion and relieving swelling.
Swelling of the legs with heart disease
Fluid retention in the body is most often caused by malfunctions of the cardiovascular system, which, in turn, leads to leg edema. It should be noted that such a condition is dangerous for the development of congestion in the lungs.
At the beginning of the disease, they prefer to fight swelling with the help of mild diuretics (they are referred to as thiazides), but if the disease progresses, then stronger (loop) diuretics are used to cope with edema that occurs even as a result of renal failure.
By the way, in order to avoid addiction, diuretics should be changed every two months.
Pregnant legs swelling: treatment, medication
In a third of all women carrying a child, the appearance of edema of the legs is observed in the second half of pregnancy. If at the same time no serious pathologies are found in the future mother, then she is prescribed plant-based diuretics: “Eufillin” (it should not be taken on an empty stomach, in addition, the drug is contraindicated in women with epilepsy, heart disease and low blood pressure), “Fitolizin” (not take in the presence of inflammatory processes), "Kanefron" (virtually no contraindications).
To help pregnant women in such cases, a salt-free diet also helps to effectively remove unwanted edema. Cranberry drink also turns out to be very useful, for the preparation of which the berries are ground with sugar, poured with water, and then taken in a glass three times a day.
Pregnant horsetail, birch leaves and buds, bear ears , etc. are no less useful to pregnant women . But there are also plants that are not recommended for use when expecting a baby: juniper fruits, parsley root and strawberries.
Swelling in the legs of the elderly: treatment with medicine
Swelling of the legs in older people is quite common. Metabolic dysfunction during the aging process provokes fluid accumulation. Note that such a condition can become a constant companion of a person and disturb from time to time.
But often the appearance of edema in elderly patients is a signal of the developed pathology of the kidneys, chronic lung diseases or the cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is impossible to choose a cure for leg swelling on your own. The patient needs a medical examination and an accurate diagnosis.
If the doctor nevertheless prescribes a diuretic, then elderly patients should be wary of disturbances in the water-salt metabolism caused by these medicines. As a result, the body can lose a lot of potassium, which is extremely important for the heart. Therefore, such patients, doctors, as a rule, do not prescribe diuretics for a long time, and take a break between the courses of taking these drugs.
Before the course of treatment with diuretics, patients are advised to create an increased background of potassium in the body by taking the preparations “Asparkam”, “Potassium orotate”, potassium chloride, etc. And during the administration, patients are prescribed vitamins and glucose for better absorption of the substance by the body.
Prevention of leg edema
Even if the problem we are considering does not bother you so often that you do not need a cure for leg edema for as long as possible, certain rules must be followed.
- Avoid shoes with very high heels, and completely flat soles.
- Exclude salt from the diet.
- Lead an active lifestyle (small workouts and walks will help to avoid swelling).
- Going to bed, put a blanket or pillow rolled into a roller under your feet
It should be said that some drugs have a side effect in the form of the appearance of edema on the legs. Consult your doctor about this, let him tell you how to get rid of the problem. Perhaps a specialist will replace your medications with more appropriate ones.
A few words in the end
Leg swelling is a problem familiar to a large number of people. And do not be afraid to go to a specialist with a question about which medicine for leg edema is suitable in a particular case. Indeed, perhaps edema is only the tip of the iceberg, and the patient is not even aware of the serious pathological processes taking place in his body. Therefore, self-medication is very dangerous.
If swelling is only a consequence of fatigue or heat, then there are a lot of safe ways to eliminate this trouble. The main thing is not to leave your body unattended and carefully observe the signs that it gives.