Swelling can ruin the mood of any girl. They cause unpleasant bags under the eyes, appear in the form of extra pounds on the scale and add inches to the waist. Not only women, but also men suffer from swelling. Therefore, the rating of the best diuretics of 2021 will be useful to all categories of readers.
People's choice:
| A drug | Price |
| 1. Torasemide | from 50 rub. |
| 2. Furosemide | from 100 rub. |
| 3. Uregit | from 2000 rub. |
| 4. Trifas | from 3000 rub. |
| 5. Oxodoline | from 1000 rub. |
Diuretic table
Diuretics: what are they, why are they prescribed?
The term "diuretics" is quite common. But few people know what they are and how to take them correctly. In simple terms, diuretics or diuretics are medications that remove excess fluid from body tissues. At the same time, cleaning occurs from:
- toxins;
- salts
Attention! When taking diuretics, it is important to understand their mechanism of action. It is quite simple - the components of the drug act on the body in such a way as to enhance the outflow of fluid that is excreted naturally.
As a result, the total blood volume decreases and the load on the body decreases.
Sites of action of diuretics
Diuretics are divided into several categories:
- loop - the most powerful of all diuretics are prescribed for serious diseases, but have a short-lived effect and simultaneously remove potassium;
- thiazides are effective and safe even for newborns, but with regular use and if the dosage is exceeded, they cause potassium removal and an increase in blood sugar levels;
- potassium-sparing - have a long period of action and are successfully combined with other drugs, but in monotherapy the result will be weak;
- carbonic anhydrase inhibitors - prescribed in strictly defined circumstances, as they give a very insignificant effect;
- of plant origin - a practically harmless and gentle diuretic, which is not suitable for serious diseases.
There are many reasons for prescribing diuretics:
- various kidney diseases;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- endocrinological disorders;
- allergy;
- PMS;
- pregnancy;
- individual reaction of the body to elevated environmental temperatures.
Diuretics are usually perceived as a first aid medicine for edema. And they give good results. But uncontrolled use can cause serious harm to the body.
The list of negative consequences includes:
- potassium withdrawal;
- addictive effect;
- water-electrolyte imbalance;
- convulsions;
- decrease in pressure;
- arrhythmia and more.
Therefore, you can start taking it only in consultation with a specialist.
Anti-edema medications are often used for weight loss. And indeed, in a week the drugs can help you lose up to 5 kilograms. But this process has nothing to do with real weight loss. The effect can be achieved by removing fluid from the tissues and it is not always superfluous. Therefore, there is a high risk of getting dehydration, and with it:
- general deterioration of health;
- drying of the skin;
- weakness.
Diuretics for excess weight are indicated in combination with other measures and only in very dosed doses.
Let's look at Diuretics video
Causes of swelling of the legs
In an adult, swelling of the legs occurs due to high consumption of salt, which in its chemical structure includes sodium and chlorine. The first component usually becomes an obstacle to the normal passage of water in the body, which causes fluid to accumulate and the legs begin to swell. Swelling is especially typical during hot weather, when a person consumes even more water. Liquid in large volumes simply does not have time to be released and accumulates, resulting in edema.
Swelling may also be associated with the use of certain medications. For example, specialists often prescribe a medication that contains glucocorticoids (adrenal hormones) to an allergy sufferer. Long-term use of this medication may cause various side effects, including swelling of the legs. Also, the condition of the lower extremities is affected by medications that are used for high blood pressure, treatment of immune diseases and hypocortisolism.
The best osmotic diuretics
Osmotic diuretics are available in the form of liquid solutions for intravenous administration. Such medications are used in hospitals as emergency medicine.
The main active ingredients in them are mannitol, glycerin and glucose, which attract fluid, increasing the contents of the bladder and stimulating urination.
OJSC Kraspharma "Mannit" - osmotic diuretic for children and adults
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A solution with mannitol is intended only for intravenous administration, since the drug is practically not absorbed when taken orally.
A diuretic for children and adults is used for poisoning, cerebral edema and acute renal failure at the rate of 1.5 g per 1 kg of weight.
The expected effect after the procedure occurs within 2-3 hours and lasts up to 13 hours. In the absence of diuresis, further use of Mannitol is inappropriate.
The main symptoms of overdose are surges in intracranial and intraocular pressure, disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Droppers with Mannitol are contraindicated during lactation and pregnancy, with hemorrhagic stroke, dehydration and necrosis of the kidney tubules.
Advantages:
- High efficiency;
- Compatible with loop diuretics;
- Has no age restrictions;
- Wide range of applications;
- The price is less than 100 rubles.
Flaws:
- Used only in stationary conditions.
Mannitol is one of the few diuretics that can be used in pediatrics. Thus, the drug is often used in the complex treatment of hydrocephalus in children.
Modern diuretics
Let us remind you once again that this material is intended, for the most part, not for patients suffering from edema syndrome, who are observed by a cardiologist for heart failure, and routinely take diuretics. Still, they are under the supervision of doctors and have a significantly lower risk of uncontrolled use of diuretics. This material is intended for those people who for some reason decided to use diuretics at their own risk.
It is no secret, for example, that the use of 1-2 tablets of furosemide in combination with intensive drinking of mineral water, vitamin C, and taking a hot shower can quickly eliminate a hangover and get a person in shape. Yes, forced diuresis is one of the effective means of removing the human body from a state of alcohol intoxication, and even from binge drinking.
But at the same time, it is necessary to remember the disadvantages that even the best modern diuretics have. Thus, treatment with these drugs alone, without correction of the ionic composition of the plasma, can lead to a large loss of fluid and mineral salts from the vascular bed, and this output will be greater than from the intercellular space. This can lead to a decrease in the amount of liquid part of the blood, or plasma, a decrease in the pumping function of the myocardium and a sharp drop in blood pressure, which can manifest as collapse. If the patient also has symptoms of heart failure, this will cause a reduced return of venous blood to the heart, and will further aggravate the low cardiac output.
Always, when using this or that diuretic, you need to find out about its capabilities, how powerful it is. Thus, thiazide diuretics, which act on the renal tubules and reduce carbonic anhydrase activity, are very common, and the most powerful are loop diuretics. Potassium-sparing diuretics can be considered quite mild and relatively harmless, since they have a rather weak effect.
Diuretics from the osmotic group, for example, Mannitol, will not be listed below. The scope of their application is completely different, for example, Mannitol is widely used in neuroreanimation and neurosurgery for the prevention and treatment of cerebral edema after surgery and in cases of severe traumatic brain injury. This section will not talk about those drugs for edema that reduce the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and are used in the treatment of varicose veins. These include various plant bioflavonoids, horse chestnut, rutin preparations, diosmin and others. They will be discussed in the relevant materials devoted to the treatment of varicose veins; their area of application is completely different, and they are not diuretics.
We will look at diuretics that have a common mechanism of action and affect the kidneys. There are not many of these drugs, and there are not many commercial copies or generics of them. But in any case, the international nonproprietary name (INN) will be given first, then, if available, the original drug, which was first introduced to the market and has the largest number of studies on effectiveness and safety, will be named first. The various generics, or commercial copies, will then be named, followed by the price. Prices are valid for the beginning of spring 2021 for pharmacies of all forms of ownership in the Russian Federation.
The following list of medicines does not aim to create advertising or anti-advertising for any manufacturer or drug; all these medicines are included in the State Pharmacopoeia and are used in accordance with national and clinical recommendations for the management of patients with edematous syndrome. Some of the medications that cannot be found in pharmacies will not be listed here, as well as older, obsolete, rather toxic mercury diuretics.
The best diuretics are carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors have a mild diuretic effect and are often used in the complex treatment of glaucoma, epilepsy, edema syndrome and mountain sickness.
The active component in such complexes is acetolazamide. Such drugs are usually taken once every two days, the duration of treatment is individual.
Polpharba "Diakarb" - a drug with a mild diuretic effect
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Tablets with 250 mg of acetolazamide have little diuretic activity. The drug inhibits carbonic angibrasis, increasing the amount of contents in the bladder.
Tablets are prescribed from the age of three and are taken ¼-2 tablets per day for 3 days, after which the diuretic effect of taking them disappears.
The product flushes potassium and magnesium from the body, so take the appropriate mineral complex with it. The most common adverse reactions are loss of appetite, thirst, anxiety, and reversible disturbances in the functioning of the organs of hearing and vision.
Diacarb is contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy, lactation, diabetes, uremia and liver failure.
Advantages:
- Cost up to 300 rubles;
- Wide range of applications;
- Minimal adverse reactions;
- Suitable for children from 3 years old;
- Can be prescribed in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Flaws:
- Weak diuretic effect.
Due to the slight diuretic effect, independent use of Diacarb for swelling is not advisable. But this remedy is often used in the treatment of childhood glaucoma and to improve acclimatization when staying in mountainous areas.
Akrikhin Acetolazamide-ACRI - a mild diuretic for children and adults
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A diuretic drug in the form of tablets is prescribed for edema syndrome, 1 piece per day, which provides a diuretic effect for up to 16 hours. Usually the drug is taken for 3 days with a one-day interval.
Acetolazamide is also prescribed for epilepsy, glaucoma, intracranial hypertension and altitude sickness as part of complex therapy. The main contraindications to its use are diabetes, renal failure and metabolic disorders.
Exceeding recommended doses does not increase the diuretic effect, but can cause electrolyte imbalance, dizziness, drowsiness and hearing and vision problems.
The product for adults and children over 3 years of age does not have a teratogenic or toxic effect, therefore, if necessary, it is prescribed to pregnant women.
Advantages:
- Prescribed for pregnant women;
- Compatible with many other medications;
- Wide range of applications;
- Minimal contraindications;
- Affordable price (200 rubles).
Flaws:
- Flushes potassium and magnesium from the body.
Acetolazamide-ACRI can be taken by almost everyone as a mild decongestant. Taking 2-4 tablets per day 2 days before climbing the mountains neutralizes the signs of altitude sickness.
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What is the best diuretic to buy?
Diuretics are used in the treatment of kidney diseases, complex therapy of arterial hypertension, in case of poisoning and during pregnancy.
These drugs are also readily used for weight loss, although this is not at all advisable, because their effect is short-lived, and potassium, calcium and magnesium are washed out of the body along with the fluid.
Thiazide diuretics are recommended for the treatment of hypertension, liver and kidney diseases, glaucoma and edema. Their active substances are quickly absorbed, and the effect of one tablet lasts up to 12 hours.
The main advantage of thiazide medications over other diuretics is maintaining the acid-base balance of the blood.
For edema of the brain, lungs, acute renal or heart failure, as well as for hypertensive crises, loop diuretics are used. These are drugs with many side effects that interfere with the absorption of beneficial substances, but they have the most pronounced diuretic effect.
They should be used only for health reasons, and taking them for rapid weight loss is permissible only in extreme cases.
For intracranial and intraocular pressure, poisoning and sepsis, osmotic diuretics are used. Products in the form of a solution for intravenous injection increase urine volume and reduce blood plasma pressure, quickly eliminating edema.
For heart failure, hypertension and edema syndrome, potassium-sparing diuretics are prescribed. They act gently, without disturbing the acid-base balance of the blood, but they also have many disadvantages. Thus, they have a teratogenic effect, causing mastopathy, menstrual irregularities and impotence.
In cases of drug poisoning, epilepsy and gout, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are prescribed as part of complex therapy. The diuretic effect of taking these drugs is subtle, but occurs quickly and lasts up to 10 hours.
For cystitis, urolithiasis, edema caused by poor diet, pregnancy and menstruation, choose herbal diuretic complexes. Such drugs will definitely not cause severe adverse reactions, and their effect is in no way inferior to synthetic drugs.
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Diuretic pills for weight loss
Taking diuretics has a positive effect on weight loss. This is due to a decrease in excess fluid in the body, acceleration of metabolism and a decrease in appetite. However, you should take medications carefully to avoid side effects. Therefore, you should consult your doctor first.
List of effective diuretics for weight loss:
- Furosemide.
- Hypothiazide.
- Veroshpiron.
- Phytonephrol.
- Phytolysin.
The best herbal diuretics
Synthetic diuretics have side effects and are usually prescribed in the complex treatment of serious diseases.
If the main purpose of taking them is to eliminate edema, limit yourself to taking herbal diuretics. In addition, such remedies are ideal in the treatment of cystitis and urolithiasis.
Evalar “Milona” 14 – 9 phytoextracts for kidney health
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A combination of extracts of elecampane, lingonberry, calamus, rose hips, burdock, licorice and other herbs will provide a pronounced diuretic effect without disrupting water-salt metabolism.
The drug in tablet form is taken from the age of 14, 2 tablets with food once a day. The minimum course of therapy is 1 month.
The product normalizes the functioning of the urinary system, eliminates muscle tension, increases the volume of fluid in the bladder and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
The drug is prescribed for inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system; it can also be taken without fear for edema of various origins.
Advantages:
- Plant composition;
- Has no adverse reactions;
- Does not disturb electrolyte balance;
- Relieves inflammatory processes of the urinary system;
- Minimum contraindications;
- Cost up to 350 rubles per 100 tablets.
Flaws:
- Allergic reactions are possible.
Milona 14 is a safe diuretic complex that will quickly eliminate swelling and relieve symptoms of inflammatory diseases of the bladder.
Solgar Herbal Water Pill – anti-edema herbal cocktail
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The herbal diuretic is taken one capsule 3 times a day to normalize the functioning of the urinary system and eliminate swelling.
Contraindications to the complex include pregnancy, lactation and individual intolerance. The product contains extracts of juniper, parsley, barberry, bearberry and agathosma.
The drug has a pronounced diuretic, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant and analgesic effect, increasing urine volume, eliminating swelling and symptoms of cystitis, pyelonephritis and urethritis. Taking Herbal Water Pill does not cause any adverse reactions.
Advantages:
- Safe composition;
- High efficiency;
- Minimum contraindications;
- There are no adverse reactions;
- Can be taken for a long time;
- Relieves diseases of the urinary system and edema.
Flaws:
- Difficult to find on sale.
Taking a herbal diuretic from Solgar is recommended for the treatment and prevention of urological diseases, as well as for removing excess fluid from the body in case of hormonal imbalances.
Causes of edema
When kidney function is impaired, water and salt are retained in the body, which leads to edema. In addition, with some kidney diseases, the amount of protein in the blood decreases (it is excreted in the urine), which also causes swelling.
If there is vascular disease from the heart, then blood and lymph tend to accumulate and put pressure on the walls of blood vessels. If the permeability of the vein walls is increased, then water will accumulate in the body. There are diseases that lead to the accumulation of water: thrombophlebitis, CVI, varicose veins; protein deficiency (hypoproteinemia); renal failure; hormonal imbalance; allergic reactions; heart disease; diabetes; cirrhosis of the liver; lymphedema; injuries.
One of the common causes of edema is insufficient lymphatic drainage, when fluid does not flow out of the tissues at the proper rate. Lymphatic vessels have valves and muscles that regulate the flow of lymph. But with age, in case of poor heredity or with additional stress (for example, during pregnancy), they cease to cope with their task - and edema forms.
We recommend keeping a diary and recording the circumference of your right and left ankle at different times, as well as the circumstances under which the swelling appeared, such as hot weather. This will help to identify under what circumstances the swelling appeared and what is causing it. The cause of the development of lymphedema can be a constant static load when a person is sitting or standing. At the slightest sign of any swelling, you should consult a phlebologist, lymphologist or therapist.
