Diuretic pills for weight loss: truth and fiction

Who came up with the idea to promote diuretic pills for weight loss, is for certain unknown. But, obviously, it is connected with the desire of people suffering from excessive body weight, to lose weight and their simultaneous reluctance to limit themselves in food, to eat right and burn excess calories by physical exertion.

Ignoring the postulates of dietetics, today over-the-counter diuretic diet pills are used in attempts to lose weight, although the weight of water - in spite of the fact that two-thirds of the person consists of water - adds to the total mass of the body only 2.2-2.5 kg.

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Indications of the diuretic pills for weight loss

Diuretics, that is, diuretics, are prescribed by doctors to relieve swelling in diseases of the kidneys (nephrotic syndrome) and liver (cirrhosis with increased portal pressure); heart failure and arterial hypertension (to eliminate stagnation of blood circulation); edematous tissue of the brain and lungs; late toxicosis (eclampsia) during pregnancy.

Diuretics are used to lower the fluid pressure inside the eyeball in patients with glaucoma, to reduce the increased pressure of cerebrospinal fluid in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

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Release form

Although the names of diuretic tablets are numerous, and the drugs of this pharmacological group are divided into loop diuretics (Furosemide, Trifas, Uregit), thiazide (hydrochlorothiazide, Chlortalidone), potassium-sparing (Amyloride, Triamteren, Fluxinar), osmotic (Manitol) and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Acetazolamide, Metazolamide), recommendations for the use of diuretic tablets for weight loss most often feature Furosemide - a fast-acting and potent cheap diuretic.

The diuretic effect of Furosemide tablets begins at most one hour after taking the standard dose - one tablet (40 mg) once a day - and lasts an average of 7 hours.

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Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of this remedy is based on blocking the absorption of sodium and chlorine in the structures of the kidney - the tubules and the ascending branch of the Henle loop. Violating the reverse absorption of these ions, loop diuretics cause an increase in the production of urine, which, in turn, reduces the volume of blood. Furosemide (other trade names - Frusemide, Furozan, Lasix, Diusemide, Driptal, Renex, Urosemide) also dilates the peripheral vessels, mechanically reducing blood pressure, while vasodilation does not depend on the diuretic effect.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]

Dosing and administration

In the instructions for diuretic tablets, there is no indication "for weight loss", nor is there a way to apply and dose diuretic diet pills.

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Side effects of the diuretic pills for weight loss

The intake of diuretic tablets Furosemide (or other diuretics) can short-term - without reducing fat deposits - reduce weight by reducing the vascular, interstitial and intracellular volume of fluid, that is, dehydration of the body.

Systematic use of diuretics has side effects that include:

• violation of hemodynamics and microcirculation due to blood clotting, which causes hypotension (A reduction), headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness and fainting;
• excretion of sodium in the urine (leads to a violation of the heart rhythm, constipation, muscle spasms and convulsions);
• an increase in the content of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia);
• increased uric acid concentration in urine and its pH (accelerates the deposition of urate in the bladder and joints);
• increased blood sugar (hyperglycaemia);
• ionic and acid-base imbalance of the organism;
• loss of potassium and magnesium, which is manifested by weakness, loss of appetite, increased fatigue, a state of depression and confusion;
• dryness of the mucous membranes, skin and decrease in the elasticity of the skin.

As the experts of the American Association of Dieticians (ADA) say, once you stop taking diuretic diet pills, your body will restore lost water, replenishing its reserves, but destructive side effects can be irreversible.

Therefore, for a sustainable weight loss, you must follow a low-calorie diet and exercise regularly.

[17], [18], [19]

Probably, the idea of using diuretic diet pills is borrowed from those who suffer from eating disorders. After all, patients with bulimia nervosa practice the so-called "purges" - the use of diuretics, vomitive and laxatives, as a way to lose weight after binge eating.

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