Health Information

Introduction

Diuretics are the substances, which enhance the output of urine. These substance increase excretion of water, sodium and chloride through urine. The diuretics agents increase the urine formation by influencing any of the processes involved in urine formation.

General uses of diuretics

Diuretics are generally used for treatment of ailments involving increase in extra cellular fluid volume like, hypertension, congestive cardiac failure and edema. These agents prevent hypertension or congestive cardiac failure by increasing urinary output and reducing the blood volume. Diuretics reduce edema by decreasing the volume of interstitial fluid.

Abuse of diuretics

Nowadays, many persons misuse the diuretic agents in order to reduce the weight and keep the body slim. However, prolonged use of these substances leads to complications like syndrome of diuretic dependant sodium retention characterized by edema.

Osmotic diuretics

Some of the osmotically active substances are not reabsorbed from renal tubules. When injected in large quantities into the body, these substances increase the osmotic pressure in the tubular fluid. The increased osmotic pressure in tubular fluid in turn reduces water reabsorption. This leads to excretion of excess of water through urine, which is called diuresis. This type of diuresis due to increases osmotic pressure is called osmotic diuresis. The substances inducing osmotic diuresis are known as osmotic diuretics. The elevated blood sugar level in diabetes can also cause osmotic diuresis in the same manner. Urea, mannitol, sucrose and glucose are the best osmotic diuretics.

Diuretics, which inhibit secretion of ADH and ADH receptors

Water and ethanol cause diuresis by inhibiting secretion of antidiuretic hormone. The antagonists of vasopressin receptors cause diuresis by inhibiting the receptors of antidiuretic hormone and thereby preventing the activity of this hormone.