Potassium-sparing diuretics

Potassium-sparing diuretics are drugs that can stop potassium in the body. This is due to their effect on the amount of water and sodium in the body. In addition, they affect the blood pressure. Diuretics are not used as an independent medicine - they have found wide application in combination with other drugs. This allows you to strengthen the effect of medications and avoid a large loss of potassium in the patient.

Potassium-sparing diuretics - list

Preparations of this group act on the distal tubule, where the loss of potassium is prevented. They are divided into two groups.

Spironolactone (Aldactone, Veroshpiron)

With the correct use of these drugs, systolic pressure decreases - this is considered a satisfactory effect. These drugs are usually prescribed by doctors when:

The potassium-sparing diuretics of this group, like many other drugs, have a number of side effects that are caused by hormonal effects. So, for example, in men impotence and gynecomastia may manifest. Women, in turn, develop mammary gland disease, the menstrual cycle is broken, and bleeding may occur during the postmenopause.

Amilorides and Triampur

These drugs do not apply to aldosterone antagonists. They affect all patients equally. There are no side effects at the hormonal level. Potassium-sparing effect occurs due to inhibition of potassium secretion at the level of the distal tubules. At the same time, magnesium is also removed from the body.

The most common side effect of this group of potassium-sparing diuretics is considered to be hyperkalemia . Against this backdrop, there is an accelerated release of potassium from the cells and an increase in its concentration in the blood. The risk of the disease is significantly increased when diuretics are prescribed for patients with renal insufficiency or diabetes mellitus.

A strong increase in the potassium content can lead to muscle paralysis. In addition, there is a risk of disturbance of the heart rhythm, up to a complete stop of the main muscle of the body. This is why medications related to this group should be taken cautiously, and in no case should the dose be increased independently.