Common Side Effects Of Diuretics

Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, are prescription medications that remove excess salt and water from the body by increasing urinary output. Diuretics are typically used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and glaucoma. Before prescribing a diuretic, doctors will ask the patient about their medical history. Diuretics may need to be prescribed with caution in patients who have conditions such as lupus, diabetes, gout, pancreatitis, or kidney disease. Due to the risk of possible drug interactions, patients should let their doctor know if they are taking lithium, digoxin, cyclosporine, antidepressants, or medications to treat high blood pressure. Many patients take diuretics on a long-term basis, and the medicine is generally well tolerated.

Most side effects of diuretics are mild. Some of the more frequent side effects are discussed below.

Issues With Potassium In The Blood

Several types of diuretics can cause issues with potassium in the blood. For example, thiazide diuretics may cause low levels of potassium. Patients with reduced potassium could experience fatigue, constipation, muscle cramps, and weakness. Potassium is involved in heart function, and inadequate levels could result in an irregular heartbeat that requires urgent treatment. Patients taking diuretics may need routine blood tests to monitor their potassium. Depending on the results, doctors might recommend the use of a potassium supplement. Individuals at an increased risk of low potassium might be prescribed a special type of diuretic known as a potassium-sparing diuretic. Unlike other diuretics, this type could result in an excess amount of potassium in the blood. Patients may experience vomiting, nausea, palpitations, chest pain, tingling, and breathing difficulties. To prevent life-threatening heart problems, urgent treatment is required to normalize potassium levels. Patients who use potassium-sparing diuretics may need to make dietary changes to reduce their potassium intake. This could involve reducing their consumption of bananas, potatoes, nuts, and seeds. Treatment recommendations will be adjusted according to the results of regular blood tests.

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Headaches

Diuretics increase the amount of fluid removed from the body, which may sometimes result in dehydration, producing headaches. To ease headache pain associated with dehydration, it could be beneficial to increase daily fluid intake. Doctors suggest individuals try resting in a dark, quiet room as one of the first steps of home treatment. Patients might also want to try taking a hot shower or applying moist heat from a warm compress to the forehead or the back of the neck. Some individuals find relief with cold packs too. Taking over-the-counter medications may help, but patients on diuretics should speak to their doctor before using these. Relaxation exercises such as deep breathing are often effective, and performing guided meditation may be useful as well. If a headache lasts more than twenty-four hours, does not improve with rest, or is accompanied by nausea, weakness, or blurry vision, patients should seek urgent medical attention.

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Dizziness

In addition to headaches, the dehydration that can occur with diuretics may trigger dizziness. Patients might feel unsteady on their feet, and they could notice lightheadedness. To treat dizziness at home, doctors recommend individuals try to sit or lie down until their dizziness has passed, and drinking water or a cold drink can help. Patients should try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, and they should ensure they get a sufficient amount of sleep each night. If dizziness occurs regularly, doctors may be able to switch the patient to a different medication. Tests such as eye movement testing, head movement testing, and posturography might be performed if the physician suspects there could be an underlying cause for the patient's dizziness. Individuals who have dizziness together with a severe headache, shortness of breath, or chest pain should go to an emergency room for evaluation.

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Increased Thirst

Some patients who take diuretics may notice increased thirst. This symptom typically develops as a result of the increased fluid loss these medications produce. Increased thirst could be a sign the patient is dehydrated and has lost too much fluid, so individuals who notice this symptom should always seek medical advice. Patients who take diuretics to treat kidney or heart conditions often need to restrict fluids, and they need to ask their physician about how much daily fluid intake they should have. Individuals with severe kidney or heart conditions might be asked to measure all liquids and record these amounts. While the increased thirst triggered by diuretics may cause an urge to drink more fluids, doing so could upset the fluid balance in a patient's body, which may lead to problems with electrolytes. Reducing salt in the diet may help reduce thirst, and patients might want to try sucking on frozen fruit or ice chips to satisfy their thirst without increasing their liquid intake. Chewing on hard candy, mints, or gum keeps the mouth moist and can reduce the desire for fluids too.

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Muscle Cramps

Nighttime muscle cramps are particularly common with diuretics, and they typically occur in the legs. Individuals who experience muscle cramps while taking diuretics might have lower than normal potassium. Since low potassium can cause irregular heart rhythms and other serious heart issues, patients with muscle cramps should ask their doctor if their potassium needs to be checked. Muscle cramps could also be a sign the diuretics have caused significant reductions in calcium, sodium, and magnesium, and patients might need to have blood tests to check these levels as well. Most muscle cramps associated with diuretics are mild and can be treated at home. Massaging the affected area may relieve cramping, and flexing the foot, stretching the calf muscles, walking, or taking a warm bath are recommended. To reduce the risk of muscle cramps at night, doctors suggest patients perform gentle leg stretches before going to bed. Drinking fluids can relieve cramping, but this is not advisable for patients on fluid restriction measures.