Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic used to treat mild hypertension (high blood pressure) and fluid retention caused by various medical conditions. It also helps reduce the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Hydrochlorothiazide lowers the body’s water content by increasing urination, which results in reduced blood pressure and improved kidney function. This article explores how hydrochlorothiazide works and its benefits, risks, side-effects, dosage, and how it should be taken.
What is Hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that is used to treat high blood pressure in people who cannot lower it enough with diet and exercise alone. It is also used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease. It may be used alone or with other blood pressure medications. Hydrochlorothiazide is used to treat high blood pressure.
It may also be used to treat certain types of kidney disease. This medication is also used to treat fluid retention caused by heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease. Hydrochlorothiazide is in a group of drugs called diuretics. It works by causing the kidneys to remove more fluid than usual from the body.
How does Hydrochlorothiazide Work?
Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide, work by increasing the amount of water that is urinated from the body. They do this by decreasing the amount of sodium and chloride in the body. The decrease in sodium and chloride in the body causes fluid to get into the blood. The fluid in the blood presses against the blood vessels, causing them to become wider.
Wider blood vessels allow blood to flow more easily. Thus, diuretics cause blood pressure to decrease. Fluid buildup also decreases because hydrochlorothiazide causes blood vessels to expand, allowing blood to flow more easily through the body. This medication may also lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
Benefits of Taking Hydrochlorothiazide
- Treats high blood pressure
- Reduces risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases
- Treats fluid retention
- Reduces high uric acid levels in the blood that cause gout
- Helps maintain healthy kidney function
Bloating, Increased urination, Decreased appetite, Nausea, Headache, Dizziness, Allergic reaction, Skin rash, Liver and kidney damage, Electrolyte imbalance, Kidney stones, Excessive potassium in the blood, Sleepiness, Confusion, Dry mouth
Every person may experience side effects from diuretics differently. You may have a different experience from someone else taking the same medication. Side effects from hydrochlorothiazide are usually mild and temporary and will go away after you stop taking the medication. If you experience side effects that are particularly bothersome or painful, you may want to discuss this with a physician.
Dosage of Hydrochlorothiazide
The recommended dose of hydrochlorothiazide is 50-100 mg twice daily. Dosages may be doubled or halved based on the condition being treated. This medication may be taken once or twice daily, or before meals. If you are taking the sustained-release form of hydrochlorothiazide, take it once daily.
Conclusion: Hydrochlorothiazide: Uses, Side-effects and Benefits
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic used to treat mild hypertension (high blood pressure) and fluid retention caused by various medical conditions. It also helps reduce the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Hydrochlorothiazide lowers the body’s water content by increasing urination, which results in reduced blood pressure and improved kidney function. As with all medications, inform your doctor if you notice any side effects while taking hydrochlorothiazide, as he or she may adjust the dosage or recommend alternative treatment.