- Diuretics

Sometimes when your heart is not pumping as well as it should can lead to you developing fluid retention.   Diuretics (or water tablets as they are most commonly referred too) are then prescribed to help get rid of the fluid build up within your body.
This can be in the lungs, ankles, legs or stomach and everyone is different.

Diuretics allow the kidneys to remove excess salt and water from the body and increases the amount of urine you produce.   This helps to relieve the heart’s workload, since there is less fluid to pump around the body.    This will make you feel less breathless and reduce swelling.

Diuretics commonly used are known as
Loop Diuretics, such as
• Furosemide (Frusemide)
• Bumetanide
Thiazide diuretics, such as
• Bendroflumethiazide (Bendrofluazide)
• Metolazone

Loop Diuetics are fast acting and normally work within 4 hours of taking the tablets.
Thiazide diuretics are more longer-acting and work over a 12 hour period.   They are normally a weak diuretic but when used in combination with a loop diuretic can be quite harsh and this is why it is important to monitor your kidney function by taking regular blood samples.

Side Effects
• Kidney complications
• Thirst
• Low blood pressure
• Gout
• Gastric upset

Please discuss with your GP or Heart Failure nurse if experiencing any of these effects.

Handy Tips
• Not all your diuretics need to be taken in the morning and some can be taken later in the afternoon if you plan to go out for the morning and finding a toilet might be difficult (please discuss this with your nurse or doctor)
• Never miss out your diuretics or you will begin to retain fluid
• If your diuretic is increased ask your doctor or nurse for a kidney function test (blood test) within 2 weeks of the change.
• The effect of water tablets lasts about 4-6 hours and are usually not the cause of passing urine overnight unless taken too close to bedtime.

Taken from the Heart Failure Newsletter No11