What are the 10 best water tablets (diuretics)?
In this article, we will describe what are the 10 best water tablets (diuretics). Let’s start with the basics.
What are diuretics?
Diuretics, sometimes called water tablets, help rid your body of water and salt (sodium). They are used for diseases when there is too much water in the body – e.g. congestive (chronic) heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), liver failure, and nephrotic syndrome.
Mechanism of action
Most of these medicines help your kidneys release more sodium into your urine. The sodium helps remove water from your blood; decreasing the amount of fluid flowing through your veins and arteries. This also reduces blood pressure.
So. What are the 10 best water tablets (diuretics)?
The most commonly used are furosemide and bendroflumethiazide. But we will go through them all, including those two drugs.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor – used to reduce intraocular pressure (in glaucoma)
1. Acetazolamide
Loop diuretics – used for fluid overload states, e.g. heart (CHF), kidney (CKD) and liver failure, and nephrotic syndrome
2. Furosemide (40 mg once a day to 120 mg twice a day)
3. Bumetanide
4. Torasemide
Also. Ethacrynic acid
Osmotic diuretic – used for head injury
5. Mannitol
Potassium-sparing – used to raise potassium levels, or for CHF
6. Amiloride
7. Spironolactone (25-100 mg once a day)
Also: triamterene, eplerenone
Thiazide diuretics – used for high blood pressure (hypertension); sometimes in combination with loop diuretics
8. Bendroflumethiazide (2.5-10 mg once a day)
9. Indapamide
10. Metolazone
Also: hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthiazide, chlorthalidone.
Side-effects
Diuretics are generally safe drugs. Side effects include increased urination and sodium loss.
Diuretics can also affect blood potassium levels. If you take a loop or thiazide diuretic, your potassium level can drop too low (hypokalaemia), which can cause life-threatening problems with your heartbeat.
If you are on a potassium-sparing diuretic, you can have too much potassium in your blood (hyperkalaemia).
Other possible side effects of diuretics include:
- Low sodium levels in blood
- Dehydration leading to low blood pressure and dizziness
- Muscle cramps
- Joint disorders (e.g. gout).
Which are the strongest diuretics?
In this order from strongest to weakest,
- Osmotic – though only used in special situations in hospital
- Loop, e.g. Furosemide
- Thiazide, e.g. Bendroflumethazide. Metolazone is the strongest in this group and can be used in combination with a loop diuretic – especially if there is severe fluid overload. They help each other to work
- Potassium sparing, e.g. Spironolactone
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, e.g. Acetazolamide.
Summary
We have described what are the 10 best water tablets (diuretics). We hope you understand them better now.
Other resources
Diuretics: a contemporary classification
What are common CKD drugs?
Best medication for congestive heart failure
Last Reviewed on 13 June 2024