Dorothy FarrarWater tablets (diuretics)
Diuretics are among the active substances with an enormous range of applications. Their appreciation began thousands of years ago with herbal medicine. Today it ranges from home use to naturopathy to modern medicine, which counts diuretic agents as an indispensable standard.
What are diuretics?
Diuretic preparations ensure that they dehydrate the body. Doctors speak of diuretic substances or diuretics . The organism excretes the water through the urinary bladder as urine. The control center is the kidneys. They ensure that the diuretic products flush out not only the pure water but also the mineral salts dissolved in it. The focus is always on sodium and potassium.
There are some clear differences between the diuretic active ingredients. In addition to the duration and strength of the effect, this also applies to the type and quantity of mineral salts released by the kidneys. Some remedies primarily reduce the excretion of body water, others also control the salt content in the organism.
The spectrum of available substances is enormously wide. It ranges from dehydrating foods to botanicals to prescription drugs. In this category there are also preparations that are particularly suitable for certain clinical pictures.The doctor uses the whole range of diuretic agents for the therapy of diseases that require treatment and produce water in the tissues. These include various forms of heart disease, high blood pressure, severely swollen parts of the body and liver and kidney disorders.
How do antispasmodic drugs work?
The principle of action of diuretics is easy to understand. The tissue fluid of the body contains not only a lot of water but also nutrients and minerals. An example is blood. If the food is too salty, blood pressure increases. The sodium in table salt binds water, the volume of liquid in the blood vessel and thus the pressure increase. If diuretic preparations remove a proportion of water and common salt from the blood via an increased amount of urine, the pressure drops.
Application areas
The diuretic substances are suitable for a number of medical applications. The common feature for most cases is water retention in the tissues. They can have harmless causes, but they can also occur as symptoms of serious illnesses.
Examples of a simple nature are a short-term excessive lifestyle or an unbalanced diet. The otherwise healthy body suffers from disturbances in the metabolism and in the water balance. The tissue accumulates the fluid, edema develops. External signs are swollen feet, fat legs or a bloated face.
Incipient or long-term chronic diseases that lead to water retention in the body are medically relevant. Like thick legs, this can be visible from the outside. However, many problems develop in the internal organs. Typical diseases are heart muscle weakness, high blood pressure, kidney damage or liver cirrhosis. The excess fluid in the organs overloads them and consequential damage occurs. An example is water in the lungs. The rapid use of certain diuretics in the clinic is indicated here. If oral medication is not sufficient, the doctor can use highly draining infusions.
Another area of application for diuretics is poisoning, to flush out toxins quickly.
Diuretic preparations are used for:
Self-medication: What preparations are there?
There is a wide range of diuretic products for self-medication. In addition to teas, there are tablets and other oral forms. Examples of trade names are Bad Heilbrunner® Harntee in bags or TAD® Harntee as granules.
When it comes to increased water retention, the doctor has three groups of active ingredients in prescription drugs at his disposal. The differences relate to subtleties such as potency, duration of action and the type of illness present.
One class of diuretics are loop diuretics. They drain through loop-shaped, small filter tubes of the kidneys. The best-known product is Lasix® with the active ingredient furosemide.
The remedy has been highly valued by doctors since it was first marketed around 60 years ago.
The second main group are the thiazides. They act in several places in the kidney. A well-known diuretic agent is HCT (hydrochlorothiazide). Trade names are Esidrix® or HCT STADA®.
The third group are the potassium-sparing diuretics. They ensure that the body does not lose too much potassium. This is important in certain patients. The active ingredient triamterene is considered to be a typical substance representative. One of the trade names is Triamteren/HCT AL®.
The patents of all three prescription substance groups have expired, which is why doctors usually prescribe the diuretic active ingredients as generics.
Dosage
In the case of over-the-counter diuretics, the manufacturer’s recommendation applies to the maximum daily dosage. If the observed symptoms last longer than one to a maximum of two weeks, it is advisable to consult a doctor. In the case of prescription diuretics, the doctor determines the dosage that is suitable for the patient. In order to achieve the desired treatment success, it is important to strictly adhere to the specifications. If there are any ambiguities, a query is appropriate.
Since the diuretics interfere with the natural control of the water and mineral balance, the doctor regularly checks the blood levels for sodium and especially potassium. Depending on the data, he adjusts the dosage if necessary. The body needs a minimum amount of potassium for the heart to work properly.
The best time to take a diuretic drug is in the morning with food, whole with a glass of water or alternatively with your breakfast drink. The time in the morning has the advantage that those affected are not disturbed by avoidable trips to the toilet at night. If there are private or professional situations in which too many visits to the toilet are unpleasant during the day, taking the diuretic preparation later is not a medical problem. On the following day, the procedure is as usual.
Herbal alternatives to cramp relief
There are numerous alternatives to therapy with diuretic substances. In the case of minor complaints and an otherwise good general condition, natural measures are effective. If the diet consists primarily of ready-made products, it is worth adjusting the menu. The keyword is a balanced diet. Ideal additions are foods that promote urination. Examples are cucumbers, carrots or asparagus. If those affected also have weight problems, they benefit in two ways.
When it comes to herbal diuretics, the majority think of teas. If you want to delve deeper into the matter of natural healing substances, you will find a wide range of products. It begins with herbs from the weekly market, which those who are interested can process themselves, and ends with the food supplements in the drugstore .There are also alternatives to the pharmaceuticals used by doctors. If patients show intolerance or insufficient effect, the therapist can switch to another group of substances. The second alternative is the combination of different active ingredients, for example a diuretic drug together with an antihypertensive drug. A third way is the diuretic combined with a supportive physical measure. First and foremost is physical therapy. She offers help with appropriate tissue massage or drainage.
Risks and side effects
Diuretics are well tolerated in most cases. The most important undesirable effects are described below.
In the first days of therapy, the water loss is higher than later. A simple way to temporarily check is daily weighing. The weight levels off again after a few days. Self-monitoring of blood pressure is also helpful. If it stays within the normal range specified by the doctor, no problem can be identified. If it falls too much, the doctor is in demand.
Another type of side effect is related to blood levels of sodium and potassium. If the sodium is too low, the patient experiences muscle spasms and confusion. If the potassium falls too low, the pulse rate can be irregular and lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
If severe sweating, fever or diarrhea occur during therapy with diuretic substances, there is a risk of dehydration and a lack of electrolytes. Self-help consists of giving plenty of fluids and minerals. If in doubt, seek medical advice.
In the case of patients with pronounced edema or an existing cardiac insufficiency, it is important to reliably adhere to the specified daily drinking quantity. Otherwise, the goal of therapy is at risk and the heart is overloaded.
If you are diabetic, you need to be extra vigilant because diuretics can increase blood glucose levels. In the initial phase of therapy, it is important for these patients to check their blood sugar more frequently.
In male patients, the mammary gland can enlarge or impotence can occur in individual cases. Talking to a doctor about more appropriate diuretics can help.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.