diuretic

diuretic
1. Promoting the excretion of urine. 2. An agent that increases the amount of urine excreted.
- cardiac d. a d. that acts by increasing function of the heart, and thereby improves renal perfusion.
- direct d. a d. whose primary effect is on renal tubular function.
- indirect d. a d. that acts by increasing cardiac function or by increasing the state of hydration.
- loop d. a class of d. agents ( e.g., furosemide, ethacrynic acid) that act by inhibiting reabsorption of sodium and chloride, not only in the proximal and distal tubules but also in Henle loop.
- mercurial diuretics d. drugs containing organic mercury ( e.g., Mercuhydrin) that promote substantial salt and water loss through the kidney. Among the first potent d. agents used in congestive heart failure, but now obsolescent.
- 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.
- potassium sparing diuretics d. 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.

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di·uret·ic .dī-(y)ə-'ret-ik adj tending to increase the excretion of urine
di·uret·i·cal·ly -i-k(ə-)lē adv
diuretic n an agent that increases the excretion of urine

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n.
a drug that increases the volume of urine produced by promoting the excretion of salts and water from the kidney. The main classes of diuretics act by inhibiting the reabsorption of salts and water from the kidney tubules into the bloodstream. Thiazide diuretics (e.g. bendroflumethiazide, chlortalidone) act at the distal convoluted tubules (see nephron), preventing the reabsorption of sodium and potassium. Potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g. amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene) prevent excessive loss of potassium at the distal convoluted tubules, and loop diuretics (e.g. furosemide) prevent reabsorption of sodium and potassium in Henle's loop. Diuretics are used to reduce the oedema due to salt and water retention in disorders of the heart, kidneys, liver, or lungs. Thiazides and potassium-sparing diuretics are also used - in conjunction with other drugs - in the treatment of high blood pressure. Treatment with thiazide and loop diuretics often results in potassium deficiency; this is corrected by simultaneous administration of potassium salts or a potassium-sparing diuretic.

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di·uret·ic (di″u-retґik) [Gr. diourētikos promoting urine] 1. pertaining to or causing diuresis. 2. an agent that promotes diuresis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • diuretic — DIURÉTIC, Ă, diuretici, ce, adj., s.n. (Medicament, ceai etc.) care produce sau măreşte diureza. [pr.: di u ] – Din fr. diurétique, lat. diureticus. Trimis de LauraGellner, 18.06.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  diurétic adj. m. (sil. di u ) …   Dicționar Român

  • Diuretic — Di u*ret ic, a. [L. diureticus, Gr. ?, fr. ? to make water; ? through + ? to make water, fr. ? urine: cf. F. diur[ e]tique.] (Med.) Tending to increase the secretion and discharge of urine. n. A medicine with diuretic properties. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • diuretic — Medicine ► ADJECTIVE ▪ causing increased passing of urine. ► NOUN ▪ a diuretic drug. ORIGIN Greek diour tikos, from diourein urinate …   English terms dictionary

  • diuretic — [dī΄yo͞oret′ik] adj. [ME diuretik < LL diureticus < Gr diourētikos < diourein: see DIURESIS] increasing the excretion of urine n. a diuretic drug or other substance diuretically adv …   English World dictionary

  • diuretic — c.1400 (adj. and noun), from O.Fr. diuretique, from L.L. diureticus, from Gk. diouretikos prompting urine, from diourein urinate, from dia through (see DIA (Cf. dia )) + ourein urinate, from ouron (see URINE (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • Diuretic — This illustration shows where some types of diuretics act, and what they do. A diuretic provides a means of forced diuresis which elevates the rate of urination. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of… …   Wikipedia

  • diuretic — [[t]da͟ɪ͟əre̱tɪk[/t]] diuretics N COUNT A diuretic is a substance which makes your body increase its production of waste fluids, with the result that you need to urinate more often than usual. [MEDICAL or TECHNICAL] Like caffeine, alcohol acts as …   English dictionary

  • diuretic — UK [ˌdaɪjʊˈretɪk] / US [ˌdaɪjəˈretɪk] noun [countable] Word forms diuretic : singular diuretic plural diuretics medical a substance that makes your body produce more urine Derived word: diuretic UK / US adjective Caffeine is known to have a… …   English dictionary

  • diuretic — adjective Etymology: Middle English duretik, diuretic, from Late Latin diureticus, from Greek diourētikos, from diourein to urinate, from dia + ourein to urinate more at urine Date: 14th century tending to increase the excretion of urine …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • diuretic — diuretically, adv. diureticalness, n. /duy euh ret ik/, adj. 1. increasing the volume of the urine excreted, as by a medicinal substance. n. 2. a diuretic medicine or agent. [1375 1425; ME d(i)uretik < LL diureticus < Gk diouretikós, equiv. to di …   Universalium

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