Diuretics

There are a few classes or types of diuretics available in New Zealand: loop, thiazide and potassium-sparing. Each type affects a different part of your kidneys and may have different uses. Your doctor will discuss which diuretic is best for you – this usually depends on your health and the condition being treated. 

Time your doses

When you first start taking diuretics, you will pee (urinate) more often and in larger amounts. This will lessen after you have taken the medication for a while. Because diuretics cause you to pee more often, most people prefer to take it in the morning. Some people may need a second dose at lunchtime. 

• You will get to know how long it takes for your diuretic tablet to work after you have started taking it, then you can plan your day around it. 
• If you want to go out in the morning and don't want to have to find a toilet, you can delay taking your dose until lunchtime or early afternoon. 
• Avoid taking your dose within 4 hours of your bedtime to prevent having to get up often to urinate during the night.

Weigh yourself

If you are taking your diuretic for heart failure, the best way to know if it is working is to weigh yourself at the same time each day. Read more about medicines for heart failure(external link). 

Limit alcohol

Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking your diuretic. Alcohol may increase your chances of getting side effects such as dizziness.

Have regular blood and urine tests

You may need regular blood and urine tests to check potassium and blood glucose levels. This is to make sure that all the chemicals in your bloodstream are properly balanced.

• Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
• Do you have difficulty peeing, or do you have prostate problems?
• Do you have gout or diabetes? These conditions can be made worse by diuretics.
• Are taking any other medicines? This includes any medicines you are taking which you can buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines and medicines you can buy for pain relief.

If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start diuretics. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.

Like all medicines diuretics can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. 

Diuretics can interact with a number of other medicines and herbal supplements so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting diuretics or before starting any new medicines.

Be careful when taking some pain relief medicines

Taking the group of pain relief medicines called ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs) can be harmful to your kidneys. Examples include: 

• diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren Rapid)
• ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen)
• naproxen (e.g. Naprogesic)
• celecoxib (Celebrex). 

Taking NSAIDs together with diuretics and medicines called ACE inhibitors or ARBs can be harmful to your kidneys (this combination of medicines is called the triple whammy). If you are taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs and diuretics, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting NSAIDs.

• Examples of ACE inhibitors are captopril, cilazapril, enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril and quinapril.
• Examples of ARBs are candesartan, irbesartan, valsartan and losartan.

Before buying NSAIDs for pain relief, check with your pharmacist whether these are safe for you.

Read more about NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs and The triple whammy(external link) SafeRx