Diuretics are drugs that enhance the excretion of sodium ions and water from the body through the kidneys.
Diuretics are used primarily in the following conditions: acute edema (water retention), chronic edema, renal failure, heart failure, and hypertension. In addition, diuretics are used in the cases of: forced diuresis to eliminate toxins that result from poisoning, diabetes insipidus.
According to the mechanism and site of action diuretics are divided into:
Loop diuretics are generally used in combination with the reduction of the salt intake in the diet, and often with other types of diuretics, in the treatment of excessive retention of salt and water, in the case of: acute pulmonary edema, chronic heart failure, liver cirrhosis complicated by ascites, nephrotic syndrome, and renal insufficiency. They are also used in the treatment of hypertension and acute treatment of hypercalcemia.
The representatives are: furosemide (Edemid, Lasix), torasemide (Torem, Demadex), and bumetanide (Yurinex, Bumex).
Thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics
This group of drugs belongs to medium strength diuretics. These diuretics are used in the case of: hypertension; mild heart failure; pronounced refractory edema; in the prevention of stone problems in idiopathic hypercalciuria, and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
The main representative is hydrochlorothiazide (Monozid, Hydrodiuril). Medicines with similar action are chlorthalidone (Hygroton) and indapamide (Indap, Lozol).
Potassium-sparing diuretics act in collecting tubules and they are very weak diuretics. The representatives are spironolactone (Aldactone), and amiloride (in combination with hydrochlorothiazide - Hemopres, Moduretic).