| diuretics | Agents that promote the excretion of urine through their effects on kidney function. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| diuretics, mercurial | A group of organometallic compounds, now rarely used, that promote diuresis by inhibiting tubular reabsorption of sodium and chloride. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diuretics, osmotic | Diuretics that are filtered at the glomerulus and reabsorbed in the renal tubule only to a limited extent. They thus increase the amount of osmotically active solute in the urine and a corresponding increase in urine volume. These compounds also increase the osmolality of plasma, thereby increasing the diffusion of water from the intraocular and cerebrospinal fluids; they can be used for reducing the pressure and volume of these fluids. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diuretics, sulfamyl | Diuretics containing one or more sulfonamide groups. They are similar to the benzothiazide diuretics in their pharmacological actions, but differ chemically in the nature of the heterocyclic ring. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diuretics, thiazide | Diuretics characterised as analogs of 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide. All have a common mechanism of action and differ primarily in the dose required to produce a given effect. They act directly on the kidney to increase the excretion of sodium chloride and water and also increase excretion of potassium ions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mercurial diuretics | Diuretic drugs containing organic mercury (e.g., Mercuhydrin) which promote substantial salt and water loss through the kidney. Among the first potent diuretic agents used in congestive heart failure, but now obsolescent. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| potassium sparing diuretics | Diuretic agents that, unlike most diuretics, retain potassium; examples are triamterene and amiloride. Often used together with diuretics that promote the loss of both sodium and potassium. Used in hypertension and in congestive heart failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| osmotic diuretics | Drugs, such as mannitol, which by their osmotic effects retain water during urine formation and thus dilute electrolytes in the urine, making resorption less efficient; they promote the elimination of water and electrolytes in the urine. (05 Mar 2000) |