There is no evidence that diuretics can safely help you lose weight long term. However, diuretic medications work to reduce blood pressure and edema (swelling) by increasing the amount of fluid that passes through your kidneys into your urine. This eliminates extra fluid from your body.
This means you may experience rapid weight loss, but this is simply water loss, not fat loss. So, as soon as you rehydrate, you will put the weight back on. This makes diuretics unsuitable as a weight loss shortcut.
If you are taking diuretics, you must follow the instructions of the prescribing doctor, as side effects are associated with taking these medications incorrectly.
How do diuretics work?
Water makes up around 60% of your body and is important for most bodily functions. Diuretics are medications that help reduce the amount of fluid buildup in your body. You may hear them referred to as water pills because they help your kidneys remove excess salt and water through your urine.
As a result, these medications can help decrease your blood pressure by reducing the amount of fluid in your blood vessels.
Three different types of diuretic medications work in different ways. These three types are loop, thiazide, and potassium-sparing diuretics. They all increase the amount of water and sodium you excrete but have different effects on how much potassium and calcium you excrete.
Diuretics and weight loss
No scientific evidence supports the use of diuretics as specific weight loss medications. This is because of the short-term side effects and the dangers of becoming dehydrated.
Diuretics cause temporary weight loss due to reduced fluid retention. For example, when people take furosemide, a kind of loop diuretic, their weight loss is directly correlated to their urine output.
In certain cases, this fluid and weight loss is a desired effect. For example, in people with congestive heart failure who have extra fluid, it can improve heart failure symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling.
However, diuretics are not a healthy way for people to lose excess body weight since they don’t reduce body fat. Healthy weight loss should be done by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
Weight loss from fluid retention is likely to come back after you rehydrate.
Risks and benefits
Like any medication, diuretics have their benefits and risks.
Benefits
Diuretics can help treat a variety of health conditions with minimal chance of side effects. If you have a heart condition like heart failure or high blood pressure, diuretics can help manage your condition. They are often the first line of treatment for high blood pressure.
Other uses for different diuretics include:
- high intracranial pressure or cerebral edema (brain swelling)
- glaucoma
- altitude sickness
- kidney failure
Risks of diuretics
If you try to take diuretics for the sole purpose of weight loss, you’ll be at risk of dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities, which can cause serious complications such as arrhythmias. Once your fluid levels return to typical levels, your weight will return to how it was before.
It is important to only take diuretics with the guidance of a prescribing doctor. This is because there are other risks with these medications other than dehydration.
If you have any of the following health conditions, taking diuretic medications, especially without the guidance of a doctor, may put you at risk of severe side effects, including:
- diabetes
- pancreatitis
- frequent dehydration
- kidney problems
Possible side effects from taking diuretics include:
- too much potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia)
- low sodium levels (hyponatremia)
- headaches
- dizziness
- thirst
- increasing blood sugar
- muscle cramping
- allergic reaction
All types of diuretics can increase your chances of developing gout. This happens because taking diuretics can increase the amount of uric acid your body produces. If you receive a prescription for diuretics, your doctor will monitor your chance of gout. Taking diuretics for weight loss will increase your chances of gout.
Examples of diuretics
Different types of diuretics all help your body get rid of excess fluids. These types include:
Thiazide diuretics
These are the most common type of diuretic medication and are often prescribed for managing high blood pressure. These medications decrease fluids as well as relax your blood vessels.
They can be taken in combination with other blood pressure-lowering medications and include:
- hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
- chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
- indapamine (Natrilix)
- metolazone (Lozol)
Loop diuretics
Loop diuretics stop a specific area of your kidney (the loop of Henle) from reuptaking sodium chloride (salt), ensuring more is lost through your urine.
They include:
- bumetanide (Bumex)
- ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
- furosemide (Lasix)
- torsemide (Demadex)
Potassium-sparing diuretics
These diuretics help get rid of excess salt and water while maintaining your potassium levels. This can help prevent low potassium levels that can occur with other diuretic medications.
They include:
- amiloride (Midamor)
- eplerenone (Inspra)
- spironolactone (Aldactone)
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