Diuretics (tablets, solutions) have firmly entered our lives. They are used to adjust the acid-base balance in the body. After all, they perfectly remove excess acid and alkali from it. Diuretic tablets, the list of which is quite impressive, are used in the treatment of poisoning, some injuries (especially when it comes to head injuries), to combat hypertension. But, unfortunately, not everyone knows not only the mechanism of action of these funds, but also the side effects that they can cause. And improper use of diuretics can lead to serious complications.
brief information
Diuretic tablets are used to treat many ailments. The list of effective drugs continues to grow today. Diuretics are also called diuretics.
Their main goal is the removal of excess water, chemicals, salts from the body, which tend to accumulate in the walls of blood vessels and tissues. In addition, diuretics have a positive effect on the water-salt balance.
If a large number of sodium ions accumulate in the body, then subcutaneous tissue begins to be deposited. It very negatively affects the functioning of the kidneys, heart, hematopoiesis system. As a result, the patient has a variety of diseases and disorders.
In addition, diuretics are very popular in sports medicine. Often they are used for weight loss. Very often, diuretics (tablets) are included in complex therapy to combat a variety of ailments.
According to the effects on the body, modern diuretics are divided into two main forms. The first category of drugs affects the process of urination directly in the kidneys. The second form of diuretics is responsible for the hormonal regulation of urine formation.
Important Caution
There is a lot of information that diuretic pills, the list of which is given below, can easily solve cosmetic problems. However, many people believe that such drugs are completely safe. Some women take these funds on their own for weight loss purposes. Athletes make extensive use of drugs before the competition, wanting to lose weight. Even bodybuilders apply them, trying to create artificial dehydration so that the muscles look more prominent.
However, people who take diuretics without medical prescription are very at risk. After all, treatment with diuretics can turn into unpleasant consequences. You should know that diuretics are capable of:
- Remove potassium from the body, thereby increasing human fatigue.
- To provoke the deposition of salts.
- Increase the risk of diabetes, as they contribute to an increase in the level of "bad" cholesterol.
- Frequent urination, causing sleep disturbance.
- Create problems in men with potency.
Quite often, even those patients who understand the risk, believe that the latest drugs "Indapamide", "Torasemide", "Arifon" do not have a detrimental effect on metabolism. Such medicines are actually much better tolerated than old-generation medicines. However, they are also harmful to health. But the negative impact of these funds comes to light much later. It is enough to understand the mechanism of their action. The medicines of the new and old generation are aimed at one thing - to stimulate the kidneys for more intensive work. Consequently, they remove more salt and water.
It is important to understand that fluid retention in the body is a symptom of a serious illness. Swelling cannot occur on its own. It provokes serious malfunctions in the functioning of the kidneys, heart, and sometimes other reasons. Consequently, diuretics are drugs (their list is very extensive) of exclusively symptomatic action. Unfortunately, they do not eliminate the cause of the disease. Thus, drugs only delay an unpleasant ending for patients. Therefore, people who want to improve their health and fight a real disease should not get along with diuretics alone, let alone use them on their own.
Drug classification
Until now, there is no single system by which all diuretics are divided, since all drugs have different chemical structures and affect the body systems in different ways. Therefore, creating an ideal classification does not work.
Often, separation occurs by the mechanism of action. According to this classification, there are:
- Thiazide preparations. They are great for the treatment of hypertension, perfectly lowering blood pressure. It is recommended to use them in parallel with other medicines. Thiazides are able to negatively affect the metabolism, therefore, such diuretics are prescribed in a small amount. The drugs (a list of only the most popular are given in the article) from this group are Ezidrex, Hydrochlorothiazide, Chlortalidone, Indapamide, Hypothiazide, Arifon.
- Loop means. They remove salt, fluid from the body due to their effect on kidney filtration. These drugs have a fast diuretic effect. Loop diuretics do not affect cholesterol, do not create the prerequisites for the occurrence of diabetes. However, their biggest drawback is the many side effects. The most common drugs are “Torasemide”, “Furosemide”, “Ethacrine acid”, “Bumetanide”.
- Potassium-sparing agents. A fairly extensive group of drugs. Such medications increase the output of chloride and sodium from the body. In this case, the removal of potassium minimizes such diuretic tablets. The list of the most popular drugs: Amiloride, Triamteren, Spironolactone.
- Aldosterone antagonists. These diuretics block the natural hormone that holds salt and moisture in the body. Aldosterone-neutralizing drugs promote fluid withdrawal. In this case, the potassium content in the body does not decrease. The most popular representative is Veroshpiron.
Drugs for edema
For a good effect, potent agents can be used. The following diuretic tablets are used for edema:
- "Torasemide";
- "Furosemide";
- Pyrethanide
- Xipamide;
- "Bumetanide."
The above drugs are recommended to be taken in short courses. Be sure to take a break between receptions. This eliminates the addiction of the body to drugs and prevents the pronounced manifestation of the therapeutic effect.
Medium-strength diuretic tablets can also be used for edema:
- "Hydrochlorothiazide";
- "Hypothiazide";
- Chlortalidone
- "Clopamide";
- "Polythiazide";
- "Indapamide";
- "Metozalon".
Such drugs are used for a long time and continuously. The recommended dose is set by the attending physician. As a rule, it is about 25 mg per day.
With small edema, potassium-sparing diuretics such as Spironolactone, Amyloride, Triamteren are more suitable. They are taken in courses (2-3 weeks) at intervals of 10-14 days.
Hypertension medications
Diuretic drugs that are used at high pressure are divided into two categories:
- Means that have a quick effect. Such drugs are used for hypertensive crisis, when there is a need to quickly reduce pressure.
- Means for daily use. Medications help maintain an optimal level of pressure.
To stop hypertensive crisis allow potent drugs. The most popular drug is Furosemide. Its price is low. The following remedies are no less effective in a crisis:
- "Torasemide";
- "Bumetanide";
- "Ethacrylic acid";
- Pyrethanide
- Xipamide.
The duration of the above drugs can be 1-3 days. After stopping the crisis, from such potent drugs, they switch to drugs that can daily maintain pressure at the required level.
The second category includes medium-impact agents. The most popular drugs are:
- "Indapamide";
- "Hydrochlorothiazide";
- "Hypothiazide";
- "Clopamide";
- "Metozalon";
- "Polythiazide";
- Chlortalidone.
These medicines are taken daily as prescribed by your doctor. They perfectly maintain an optimal level of pressure.
Heart failure medications
Due to this pathology, fluid retention in the body often occurs. This phenomenon creates blood stasis in the lungs. The patient has many unpleasant symptoms, such as shortness of breath, swelling, enlarged liver, and wheezing in the heart.
For people with heart failure, the doctor must introduce a diuretic into the therapy. It perfectly prevents the most serious consequences in the form of pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock. At the same time, diuretics increase the tolerance of physical exercise by patients.
For patients with the first and second degree of illness, a good diuretic is a thiazide drug. With a more serious pathology, the patient is transferred to a powerful tool - a loop diuretic. In some cases, the drug "Spironolactone" is additionally prescribed. Especially relevant is the administration of such a drug if the patient has developed hypokalemia.
With the weakening effect of the use of the drug "Furosemide" cardiologists recommend replacing it with the drug "Torasemide." It is noted that the latter remedy has a more beneficial effect on the body in severe forms of heart failure.
The drug "Furosemide"
The medicine refers to high-speed diuretics. Its effect occurs after administration for 20 minutes. The duration of exposure to the drug is about 4-5 hours.
Effectively, this tool is not only for stopping a hypertensive crisis. According to the instructions, the medicine helps with heart failure, swelling of the brain and lungs, chemical poisoning. Often it is prescribed for late toxicosis during pregnancy.
However, the tool also has strict contraindications. The drug is not used in the first trimester of pregnancy. Do not use it for patients with renal failure, people who have hypoglycemia, urinary tract obstruction.
Low cost of the drug "Furosemide". The price is approximately 19 rubles.
The drug "Torasemide"
The medicine is a fast-acting remedy. The drug "Furosemide" undergoes biotransformation in the kidneys, so it is not suitable for all patients. A more effective medicine for people suffering from kidney ailments is the drug “Torasemide”, since it passes through the liver in biotransformation. But with the pathologies of this organ, the medicine can cause serious harm.
After 15 minutes, the effect on the body begins (according to the instructions for use attached to the drug "Torasemide"). The price of the product varies from 205 to 655 rubles.
Long-term studies have confirmed the high effectiveness of the drug in heart failure. In addition, the drug perfectly removes salt and liquid. In this case, the loss of potassium by the body is insignificant, since an effective agent blocks the hormone aldosterone.
The drug "Indapamide"
The medicine is very effective for hypertension (severe and moderate). The tool perfectly reduces pressure and maintains its optimal level throughout the day. In addition, it prevents an increase in this indicator in the morning.
You need to take the medicine once a day for 1 tablet, as indicated by the instructions enclosed in the drug "Indapamide". The price of the product on average varies from 22 to 110 rubles.
Before taking, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications, since an excellent remedy is not suitable for all patients suffering from hypertension. The drug is not intended for people who have revealed abnormalities in the work of the kidneys, liver. It is forbidden to take medicine for pregnant and lactating mothers. In case of cerebrovascular accident, anuria, hypokalemia, the drug is contraindicated.
The drug "Triamteren"
The medicine is a mild diuretic. It is recommended to use it in combination with another diuretic, Hydrochlorothiazide. Thanks to this combination, it is possible to reduce the loss of potassium by the body. The beneficial effect is given by the drug "Triamteren". The instruction positions it as a potassium-sparing agent.
The medicine should be used strictly considering the prescribed dosage. People with impaired kidney function may experience an unpleasant side effect - elevated potassium levels. Sometimes the remedy can lead to dehydration. When interacting with folic acid, the drug helps to increase red blood cells.
The cost of the tool is 316 rubles.
The drug "Spironolactone"
The medicine is a potassium and magnesium preserving agent. It effectively removes sodium and chlorine from the body. After the start of the drug, the diuretic effect occurs approximately 2-5 days.
The medicine can be prescribed for hypertension, a chronic form of heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome. Effective use of "Spironolactone" for swelling in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
The drug is not intended for people who are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, renal or liver failure, anuria. It is forbidden to use the drug in the first trimester of pregnancy. With hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, the drug is contraindicated. It should not be introduced into therapy for people with Addison's disease.
Side effects may also occur when taking the medicine. In some cases, the drug provokes the occurrence of urticaria, itching, drowsiness, headache, diarrhea, or constipation.
The cost of the tool is about 54 rubles.
Reviews about diuretics
Many patients are interested in the opinions of those people who are already taking diuretic pills. Reviews, as a rule, contain information about the effectiveness, side effects.
People faced with a hypertensive crisis confirm that the drug "Furosemide" can very quickly and effectively help. However, at the same time they emphasize that it is worth using the drug only as prescribed by the doctor and in the recommended doses.
Confirm the effectiveness of the drug and pregnant women who use the drug in the last months of pregnancy. Patients claim that it perfectly eliminated puffiness.
However, abuse of the drug is strictly prohibited. After all, the medicine "Furosemide" is quite addictive enough. In addition, the drug removes potassium from the body. After prolonged use, patients may experience seizures.
The Indapamide preparation is in sufficient demand. Hypertensive patients are often prescribed such a remedy. Among patients, it is believed that the medicine is well tolerated by the body. In this case, the diuretic effect is favorable. Negative opinions about the drug are not observed.
A good effect on the body has the drug "Torasemide." Patients taking the drug strictly as prescribed by the doctor and under his control say that the drug is very effective. It perfectly eliminates puffiness. In this case, patients do not observe problems in the form of side effects.
Favorable results bring the body and other diuretic tablets. Reviews on the drug "Spironolactone" indicate a strong diuretic effect. However, patients argue that the drug should be used only as prescribed by the doctor and in appropriate doses.
Doctor's recommendations
Before taking a diuretic, be sure to tell your doctor about all the drugs you are taking. In addition, the presence of chronic ailments is an important factor in the selection of the necessary medicine. You should not arbitrarily take such funds. It is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's prescription. Take the drug at the appointed time (this will avoid unpleasant awakenings at night) and only at the dosage that has been prescribed to you. Such simple truths will not allow you to feel the grave consequences of taking diuretics.