Diurex Water Pills For Weight Loss

Diurex water pills are designed to help alleviate temporary water weight gain. The active diuretic ingredient in these pills is caffeine. Check with a doctor if you are suffering water retention because it may have a medical cause. Also, consult a doctor before trying any new medicine, especially if you have a health condition or take medication for a pre-existing condition.

Caffeine Effectiveness

Caffeine may not be as strong a diuretic as previously thought, according to nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky of MayoClinic.com. Drinking caffeinated beverages, for example, only produces a diuretic effect if you consume large amounts, such as 500 mg to 600 mg daily, equal to 4 to 7 cups of coffee. One cup coffee has 40 to 180 mg caffeine, while Diurex has 50 mg per pill. While caffeine can act as a diuretic in some people, any weight loss it produces is temporary. Caffeine also may help reduce your appetite but only for a brief time and there's no scientific evidence that long-term use is helpful for losing weight, according to Zeratsky. It also may stimulate thermogenesis, but not enough to lead to significant weight loss, Zeratsky notes.

Caffeine Considerations

If you are using caffeine-containing medicines like Diurex to stimulate water-weight loss you need to avoid drinking large amounts of caffeine-containing beverages like soda, coffee and tea, according to Drugs.com. Caffeine may cause side effects including trouble sleeping, mild nausea, irritability and nervousness. Check with a doctor if caffeine causes diarrhea, dizziness, a rapid or pounding heartbeat, high or low blood sugar levels, severe nausea, vomiting or tremors. It also rarely may cause stomach bloating, dehydration or unusual weakness or tiredness. Consult a doctor before taking medication with caffeine, especially if you have anxiety, heart disease, high blood pressure, insomnia, panic attacks or liver disease.

Magnesium Salicylate

The other active ingredient in Diurex is magnesium salicylate, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine. Combining pain medications with caffeine can increase their effectiveness, according to Drugs.com. Magnesium salicylate works by reducing substances in your body that cause pain, inflammation and fever. Consult a doctor before using products with this drug, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, a bleeding disorder, stomach or intestinal bleeding, anemia, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, a genetic enzyme deficiency, nasal polyps or are dehydrated. Magnesium salicylate may cause life-threatening circulation or heart problems, especially with long-term use. Don't use it prior to or just after heart bypass surgery. It also may have serious effects on your intestines or stomach such as perforation or bleeding that can be life-threatening, according to Drugs.com.

Expert Insight

If you are suffering temporary water-weight gain, such as with premenstrual syndrome, you may be able to manage your water retention with lifestyle changes instead of water pills, according to Zeratsky. Drink more water, consume more fruits and veggies and reduce your sodium intake. Also, if you are seeking long-term weight loss diuretics are unlikely to help, Zeratsky notes.