Diuretic agents have become the standard of care for several medical conditions including leg swelling, heart failure and high blood pressure. One of the side effects of diuretic use is weight loss; however, these drugs should not be used with the sole intention of losing weight.
Proper Use of Diuretics
Diuretics are commonly used in the treatment of heart failure and high blood pressure. The rationale behind their use lies in the nature of these disorders. Classified as fluid overloaded states, high blood pressure and heart failure patients have the problem of retaining too much salt and water. As the heart gets weaker from constantly pumping against these high pressures, the volume of fluid retained by the kidney continues to increase. These patients are suffering from a vicious cycle, which can often be broken with the strategic use of diuretic therapy. The purpose of the diuretic is to remove the excess fluid from the circulation, which decreases the workload on the heart.
Diuretics and Weight Loss
While diuretic agents are well established to decrease the weight of the user, the weight loss is temporary. When you take a diuretic, the drug will block the absorption of water and sodium in your kidney. This has the effect of increasing urine output and will decrease total body water. Therefore, weight will be lost, but it is purely water weight. Once off the diuretic, your normal intake of fluids will cause you to put back on the same amount of water weight.
Diuretic Classes
According to the Mayo Clinic, diuretics can be classified three ways: Loop, thiazide, and potassium sparing. Each class acts on different regions of the kidney and is accompanied by its own unique side-effect profile. For instance, the level of potassium in your blood may decrease to unsafe levels while on a thiazide diuretic; however, potassium-sparing diuretics have the opposite effect and may elevate your potassium levels above normal. In either case, the diuretic has the potential to create unsafe swings in electrolyte levels in the body. Additionally, all three classes of diuretics result in the loss of sodium and water from the body, which could potentially lead to the development of a serious condition known as hyponatremia, or low blood sodium.
Other Side Effects
The use of diuretics for weight loss is not a healthy practice and could lead to serious medical complications including kidney damage and dehydration. Diuretics have no effect on fat tissue and are not viable weight-loss options. Diuretics should only be taken when prescribed and then closely monitored by a physician.
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