diuretic
Sign in to saveA diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from the body, through the kidneys. There exist several classes of diuretic, and each works in a distinct way. Alternatively, an antidiuretic, such as vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone), is an agent or drug which reduces the excretion of water in urine.
AI overview
A diuretic is a substance that increases urine production, causing the body to excrete more water through the kidneys—which is why these medications are sometimes called "water tablets." Diuretics matter because they're used medically to help manage conditions where removing excess water from the body is beneficial, though different types work in distinct ways.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Drug class.Name
- Diuretics
- Drug class.Image
- Furosemid 125mg vials yellow background.jpg
- Drug class.Caption
- Furosemide 125 mg vials for intravenous application
- Drug class.Use
- Forced diuresis, hypertension
- Drug class.ATC_prefix
- C03
- Drug class.MeshID
- D004232
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Medical uses
- Types
- High-ceiling/loop diuretics
- Thiazides
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Calcium-sparing diuretics
- Osmotic diuretics
- Low-ceiling diuretics
- Mechanism of action
- Adverse effects
- Abuse in sports
- See also
- References
- External links
A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from the body, through the kidneys. There exist several classes of diuretic, and each works in a distinct way. Alternatively, an antidiuretic, such as vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone), is an agent or drug which reduces the excretion of water in urine.
== Medical uses == In medicine, diuretics are used to treat heart failure, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, influenza, water poisoning, and certain kidney diseases. Some diuretics, such as acetazolamide, help to make the urine more alkaline, and are helpful in increasing excretion of substances such as aspirin in cases of overdose or poisoning. Diuretics are sometimes abused by athletes who seek to excrete water for quick weight loss and/or to mask their use of banned substances, and by people with eating disorders, especially people with bulimia nervosa, who seek to lose weight.