A 48-year-old member asked:
What is the best diuretic?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sergio Schabelmananswered
Cardiology 49 years experience
The one that works:): Thiazide (HCTZ, Dyazide) are weak diuretics but a very good medicine to start treating Hypertension.
When stronger diuretics are needed, the choice is "loop" diuretics (furosemide, torsemide, bumetanide), used more frequently for edema , fluid overload and heart failure.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Clarence Grim commented
Endocrinology 58 years experience
The way diuretics work is to increase the ability of the kidney to get rid of excess salt. Therefore the best and safest diuretic is to eat less salt. You can use the app Fitness Pal to track your Na (salt) intake and decreasing the intake you will not need a diuretic. at all likely. The current recommendation of HTN is to use Chlorthalidone 12..5 then 25 if the DASH diet does not work.
May 22, 2016
Dr. Clarence Grimanswered
Endocrinology 58 years experience
Best diuretic: 50 from OH asks what is best diuretic. Diuretics work by getting rid of excess sodium in body and water follows. Best way to avoid need for diuretics is to eat less salt (NaCL). So I recommend you read the DASH diet book, discuss with your team and see if you can avoid diuretics by eating less salt. Here is the book number I recommend
ISBN: 0-7434-1007-6 also available as e-book.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Jason Klineanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 20 years experience
Depends.: There are several different classes of diuretics and each class has different properties of which the prescribing doc may take advantage. For instance furosemide tends to lower potassium levels in the body whereas spironolactone increases them. Certain diuretics work better in kidney disease than others. It's complicated, so to answer your question, the "best" diuretic depends on the situation.
1.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jeffrey Webberanswered
Cardiology 33 years experience
No one best diuretic: the best diuretic is one that pulls off the most fluid. The stronger the diuretic the more likely one will face other complications such as low potassium, sodium, or magnesium levels. Metolazone is perhaps single most potent oral diuretic, but I use with great caution b/c can mess with electrolyte balance (mentioned above) in profound way. Furosemide (Lasix) and bumetanide are other potent ones
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
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Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What is a diuretic?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Christopher Whiteanswered
Cardiology 44 years experience
Water pills: Medications that increase urine production.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 28, 2017
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