Diuretics for High Blood Pressure
How It Works
Diuretics cause the kidneys to remove more Reference sodium Opens New Window and water from the body, which helps to relax the blood vessel walls, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Diuretics often are combined with other Reference high blood pressure Opens New Window medicines. Some of the brand names listed here are a combination of a diuretic and another medicine. Using both a diuretic and another medicine often works well, because diuretics can enhance the effect of the other medicines and sometimes prevent the fluid retention that can occur.
Potassium-sparing diuretics, unlike most other diuretics, do not cause potassium levels to drop. Rather, they may lead to high potassium levels.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: November 12, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
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