Potassium-sparing diuretics are water pills that get rid of extra fluid. Some common loop diuretics include furosemide (Lasix), torsemide, and bumetanide (Bumex). So you'll need regular blood tests to make sure everything is OK while taking a loop diuretic. Loop diuretics can also be tough on the kidneys. This can lead to dehydration, low potassium levels, and low sodium levels. However, one of the biggest issues is that loop diuretics can remove electrolytes, like potassium and sodium, from your blood. They’re a preferred option for relieving edema, especially for people with heart failure. They get rid of the most fluid of all the available water pills. Loop diuretics are another common class of diuretics. If you see the letters “HCTZ” on your prescription label, it means hydrochlorothiazide is in the medication. Hydrochlorothiazide is commonly added to other blood pressure medications to help boost their effects. Because they work in the kidneys, you’ll need blood tests to make sure these water pills aren’t hurting them.Ĭommon thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone. At higher doses, they can also help treat edema. They’re first-choice water pills for hypertension (high blood pressure). Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics are some of the most commonly used diuretics. There are other, less prescribed water pills used in certain situations. Keep in mind this list isn’t all-inclusive. Let's take a look at the most common diuretic classes. Some diuretics make you lose more water than others, and side effects can vary between classes. Depending on how they work, this can make them a more preferred treatment option for certain conditions. So regardless of which one your healthcare provider suggests for you, they’re generally inexpensive.ĭiuretics can be broken into different classes based on how they work in the kidney. market for several decades and have generic versions available. There are many diuretics available for people to take. As such, many people take diuretics for these health conditions. But each type of water pill does this in a different way.īy removing extra fluid, diuretics can help manage different medical conditions, like high blood pressure, heart failure, and swelling from fluid buildup ( edema). Diuretics usually make you filter out more fluid. What we’ve found is that we can actually change how the kidneys filter certain substances. This is turned into urine, passed to the bladder, and then removed from the body by urinating. In other words, diuretics are pills that help you get rid of extra water - hence the name “water pills.” What do water pills do?ĭid you know your kidneys filter more than 200 liters of blood per day? That's a lot of work! What your kidneys are doing is helping keep your body balanced by getting rid of waste and extra fluids, among other things.

They help you remove excess fluid from the body through urination. You see, there’s a class of medications, called diuretics, that work in the kidneys. They’re commonly called “water pills” because of how they work in the body. First off, water pills aren't made of water.

Medication for fluid retention