Is a water pill a drug?

Hydrochlorothiazide is in a class of medications called diuretics ('water pills'). It works by causing the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.

What kind of drug is a water pill?

Diuretics, also called water pills, are a common treatment for high blood pressure. Find out how they work and when you might need them. Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, help rid your body of salt (sodium) and water. Most of these medicines help your kidneys release more sodium into your urine.

Are diuretics considered drugs?

Diuretics are drugs that increase the flow of urine. They are commonly used to treat edema, hypertension, and heart failure. Typically, the pharmacological group consists of five classes: thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, osmotic diuretics, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Why would someone take a water pill?

Diuretics, or water pills, help your kidneys put extra salt and water into your urine or pee. This is how diuretics clear extra fluid out and bring down your blood pressure. Diuretics also help when you have too much fluid collecting because of heart failure or other medical problems.

Are water pills the same as drinking water?

Secondly, when you take a water pill and it causes you to urinate out the fluid in your body, it's not just water. The fluid also contains important electrolytes like sodium and potassium.

Do Diuretics (water pills) Now Cause Heart Attacks? – Dr.Berg On Thiazide Diuretics Side Effects

Is it OK to take a water pill everyday?

Water pills aren't addictive, but they can be dangerous.

When you start taking them on your own without a recommended dosage, however, you could do some serious damage to your body. “[Taking them] can cause worsening kidney function, and lightheadedness or dizziness as a result of being dehydrated,” says Lunenfeld.

What are the side effects of water pills?

Not surprisingly, one of the most common side effects of taking water pills is frequent urination. Other possible side effects include lightheadedness, fatigue, bowel changes, and muscle cramps. Men may occasionally experience erectile dysfunction.

Who should not take water pills?

Avoid taking loop diuretics if you have certain conditions, including hypokalemia (low potassium levels), severe hyponatremia (low sodium levels), hypotension (low blood pressure), oliguria (low urine output), or if you are expecting to have fluid depletion, such as during surgery.

What happens when you stop taking water pills?

Stopping hydrochlorothiazide

If you stop taking hydrochlorothiazide suddenly, your blood pressure could increase and raise your risk of complications. You may experience headaches, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat if you stop taking this medication suddenly.

How do you know if you need a water pill?

You may be started on a diuretic (water pill) if you have signs of holding on to fluid. Signs of excess fluid include swelling in your ankles, legs, or fullness in your belly. You may be told by your doctor to take more of your water pills if you gain weight.

Are water pills bad for your kidneys?

Diuretics, or water pills, are used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, glaucoma, and edema, but as with all medications, they come with some risks. Popular diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and spironolactone. They are associated with a risk for acute kidney injury.

Should you drink more water when taking diuretics?

It's usually best to drink normally while you're taking furosemide. A good rule is to drink enough fluid so that you're not thirsty for long periods, and to steadily increase your fluid intake when exercising and during hot weather.

What is the #1 most common side effect of diuretics?

Two of the commonest side effects are mild hypovolaemia, when any diuretic is used, and mild hypokalaemia when the non-potassium-sparing diuretics, such as thiazides and frusemide are used.

Are water pills illegal?

Because of their abuse by athletes, diuretics have been included on The World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of prohibited substances; the use of diuretics is banned both in competition and out of competition and diuretics are routinely screened for by anti-doping laboratories.

What to avoid when taking diuretics?

What organs do water pills affect?

Hydrochlorothiazide is in a class of medications called diuretics ('water pills'). It works by causing the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.

Can you stop taking water pills cold turkey?

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause serious or life-threatening heart problems.

How many hours does a water pill last?

Hydrochlorothiazide starts working about 2 hours after you take it and its effects can last up to 12 hours. With this in mind, try to have easy access to a bathroom about 2 hours after your dose because you'll likely need to use it. Hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill that makes you urinate more often.

What happens if you don t drink enough water with a water pill?

Water helps medicine pass from your mouth to your stomach and small intestine and to be absorbed to give the desired action. Swallowing medicines without enough water may prevent the medicine from acting properly and may even lead to undesired side effects in some cases.

Are water pills bad for your bladder?

By causing increased formation of urine by the kidneys, diuretics increase urinary frequency and may cause urinary urgency and incontinence.

Can your body become dependent on water pills?

Idiopathic edema patients abusing diuretics are occasionally becoming dependent to such a degree on increasing doses of diuretics that their withdrawal results in severe cardiorespiratory failure, occasionally even pulmonary edema.

How many days should you take water pills?

Adults—The usual dose is 25 to 100 milligrams (mg) daily as a single or divided dose. Your doctor may want you to take this dose every other day or on 3 to 5 days each week.

Do water pills make your stomach flat?

While OTC and prescription water pills temporarily put the kibosh on bloating by flushing fluids from your body, over time they can have the opposite effect. "You'll go back to retaining the same amount of water as you did before you took them, often within hours," says Anegawa.

Are water pills good for your heart?

Diuretics, better known as "water pills," help the kidneys get rid of unneeded water and salt. This makes it easier for your heart to pump. These medicines may be used to treat high blood pressure and ease the swelling and water buildup caused by many medical problems, including heart failure.