Category:Diuretics

Diuretics（中文： 利尿劑）

Diuretics promote the excretion of water and electrolytes by the kidneys. They are used in the treatment of heart failure or in hepatic, renal, or pulmonary disease when salt and water retention has resulted in oedema or ascites. Diuretics are also used, either alone or with other drugs, in the treatment of hypertension.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide are weak diuretics and are used mainly to reduce intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma.

'Loop' diuretics produce an intense, dose-dependent diuresis of relatively short duration.

Potassium-sparing diuretics have a relatively weak diuretic effect and are normally used with thiazide or loop diuretics. Eplerenone and spironolactone are aldosterone antagonists and are particularly used in conditions where aldosterone contributes to the pathophysiology.

Thiazides such as hydrochlorothiazide, and certain other compounds, such as metolazone, with structural similarities to the thiazides, inhibit sodium and chloride reabsorption in the kidney tubules and produce a corresponding increase in potassium excretion.