Diuretics High Blood Pressure Medication
Good for You or Not?

Like other high blood pressure medication, diuretics have their pros and cons. Should you use them to achieve a normal blood pressure? Let's take a look and see.

When my doctor diagnosed me with hypertension, he prescribed an ace inhibitor. I only used it for a few weeks before deciding not to use drugs to solve the condition.

Due to my high blood pressure diet, my average blood pressure is less than when I was on the drug.

I wonder why my doctor chose to give me an ace inhibitor over diuretics.

They were shown to be just as good as, and cheaper than, ace inhibitors and calcium channel blockers (2002 ALLHat Study - Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial).

Did you ever wonder why one type over the other?



How Diuretics work

The term "water pills" can be used to describe this type of high blood pressure medication. Water pills help the body get rid of excess salt and, as salt is a cause of water retention, water, too.

This lowers the volume of blood in the circulatory system and, hence, lowers the blood pressure from the force of the heart pumping.

There are several kinds of the drug, but only the thiazides are used to reduce blood pressure. The thiazides work on certain parts of the kidneys to effect their action.

If you are taking a high blood pressure medication, do you know what kind it is?



List of some water pills

Esidrix
Furosemide
Hydrochlorothiazine
Spironolactone
Metolazone
Zaroxolyn

These are the common ones. If you don't find yours above, check the mini-pamphlet that came with your prescription. That should tell you what you need to know.

Now, we come to the warning.



Adverse Effects

Adverse effects include excessive urination, electrolyte imbalance, increased blood sugar, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, increased thirst, abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), extreme tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps, blurred vision, confusion, constipation, fever, coughing, skin rash, loss of appetite, nausea.

You may not experience these symptoms, or when you do you may ascribe them to something else. One thing is sure though - the drug is doing something to the body in addition to reducing blood pressure.

Remain aware of these adverse effects and report them to your doctor right away.


Diuretics high blood pressure medication may be safer for you than other blood pressure medications. Nevertheless, they are not natural and they act as poisons in the body.

The safer way to achieve normal blood pressure is through the methods shown on this site. Medication may be necessary, but it is hugely overused and depended upon.

So, I recommend for your benefit that you do a little study of our other pages.

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