Should seniors take diuretics?
Should seniors take diuretics?
Elderly hypertensive patients are generally more ‘salt sensitive’ than younger patients,13 and therefore diuretics are preferred since they provide excretion of water and salt by the kidney.
Are diuretics effective for treating mild hypertension?
When chosen as a treatment for hypertension, diuretics have proven to be effective in preventing heart attack and stroke in many individuals. Certain foods and herbs also possess diuretic effects, helping you to urinate more often to excrete excess fluids and sodium.
What are the most commonly prescribed diuretics?
Thiazides are the most commonly prescribed diuretics. They’re most often used to treat high blood pressure. These drugs not only decrease fluids, they also cause your blood vessels to relax. Thiazides are sometimes taken with other medications used to lower blood pressure.
Are diuretics bad for you long term?
Long-term diuretic treatment was well tolerated, and caused remarkably few significant untoward reactions. The unfavorable metabolic response to diuretic treatment may, however, cancel part of the potential benefit of blood pressure control in certain patients.
When is the best time to take a water pill?
How do I take it? Take your diuretic exactly as prescribed. Take it at least six hours before bedtime to help avoid getting up in the night.
Which is the best diuretic for high blood pressure?
Thiazide diuretics are recommended as one of the first drug treatments for high blood pressure. If diuretics aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure, your doctor might add other blood pressure medications to your treatment plan.
How often should I take furosemide for diuretic effect?
Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
What kind of diuretic can I take for potassium?
So do loop diuretics, such as bumetanide (Bumex) and furosemide (Lasix). If you take these medications, your doctor may prescribe extended-release potassium tablets, which contain 600 to 750 mg of the mineral.
How much Lasix is needed to treat diuresis?
Therapy should be individualized according to patient response to gain maximal therapeutic response and to determine the minimal dose needed to maintain that response. Adults — The usual initial dose of LASIX is 20 mg to 80mg given as a single dose. Ordinarily a prompt diuresis ensues.
Which is the best diuretic for water retention?
Some herbs and dietary supplements may help you excrete water (diuretic) and help with sodium and water retention. Examples include dandelion, ginger, parsley, hawthorn and juniper.
Why are older people at risk for overuse of diuretics?
Older people have higher occurrences of the top illnesses treated by diuretics—hypertension, heart failure and renal disease—and therefore are at high risk of being overprescribed. The ability of diuretics to treat a wide variety of medical conditions also contributes to its “epidemic overuse,” the article notes.
How are diuretics used to treat high blood pressure?
Diuretics, also called water [&pills&], are a common treatment for high blood pressure. Find out how they work and when you might need them. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Diuretics, sometimes called water [&pills&], help rid your body of salt (sodium) and water. Most of them help your [&kidneys&] release more sodium into your urine.
Why are diuretics called water pills at Mayo Clinic?
By Mayo Clinic Staff Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, help rid your body of salt (sodium) and water. Most of them help your kidneys release more sodium into your urine. The sodium takes with it water from your blood, decreasing the amount of fluid flowing through your veins and arteries.