Blood Pressure Drugs - Page 8

Loop Diuretics

(check with manufacturer for specific information)

Commonly prescribed brands:

Furosemide

Torsemide

Lasix

Demadex

How they are given:

• Oral or injected through an IV line

What they are used for:

• To treat high blood pressure
• To treat swelling ( edema) associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease

You should not be treated with them if:

• You are unable to produce urine

Possible side dffects:

• Lowered potassium levels (which can cause nausea, numbness, confusion, drowsiness, and weakness)
• Increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels
• Lowered calcium
• Sensitivity to sun
• Rash

Pregnancy/nursing:

• The safety of these medications during pregnancy is unknown
• The safety of these medications during nursing is unknown
• Furosemide can enter a woman's breast milk, but it is not known if torsemide can enter a woman's breast milk

Thiazides & Related Diuretics

(check with manufacturer for specific information)

Commonly prescribed brands:

Chlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide

Metolazone

Diuril

Microzide
HydroDIURIL

Mykcrox

How they are given:

• Oral

What they are used for:

• To treat high blood pressure
• Additional therapy in swelling (edema) associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and corticosteroid and estrogen therapy

You should not be treated with them if:

• You are unable to produce urine

Possible side effects:

• Lowered potassium levels (which can cause nausea, numbness, confusion, drowsiness, and weakness)
• Increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels
• Lowered calcium
• Sensitivity to sun
• Rash

Pregnancy/nursing:

• The safety of these medications during pregnancy is unknown; thiazides can cause some problems in infants, but no birth defects have been reported
• The safety of thiazide diuretics during nursing is unknown. They can enter a woman's breast milk.

Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

(check with manufacturer for specific information)

Commonly prescribed brands:

Amiloride

Triamterene

Midamor

Dyrenium

How they are given:

• Oral

What they are used for:

• To treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. They are usually combined with thiazide or other diuretics to help restore normal potassium levels and prevent abnormally low potassium levels in the blood ( hypokalemia).

You should not be treated with them if:

• You are taking other medication to maintain normal potassium levels
• You have been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems
• You have kidney disease as a result of diabetes
• You are unable to produce urine
• You have a high potassium level in your blood

Possible side effects:

• Increased level of potassium in the blood (which can cause weakness, numbness, confusion, and heaviness in the legs)

Pregnancy/nursing:

• The safety of these medications during pregnancy and nursing is unknown

Combination Diuretics

(check with manufacturer for specific information)

Commonly prescribed brands:

Amiloride & hydrochlorothiazide

Triamterene & hydrochlorothiazide

Moduretic

Dyazide
Maxzide

How they are given:

• Oral

What they are used for:

• To treat high blood pressure or swelling (edema), and some cases of chronic heart failure, in patients who cannot take thiazide diuretics alone because of concerns about low potassium (for example, patients with heart rhythm problems)

You should not be treated with them if:

• You are taking another medication to maintain a normal potassium level (such as potassium supplements, spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene)
• You are unable to produce urine
• You have been diagnosed with kidney problems
• You have kidney disease as a result of diabetes

Possible side effects:

• Increased level of potassium in the blood (which can cause weakness, numbness, confusion, and heaviness in the legs)

Pregnancy/nursing:

• The safety of these medications during pregnancy is unknown
• The safety of these medications during nursing is unknown, but components of these drugs can enter a woman's breast milk