Diuretics Flashcards
What is a diuretic
Any drug that accelerates the rate of urine formation
How does a diuretic work (general)
Removes Na+ by blocking Na+ ion channels so it cannot be reabsorbed, which in turn causes water to follow, which increases urine output
How much Na+ is reabsorbed at the loop of Henle
20-25%
How much Na+ is reabsorbed at the distal tubule
5-10%
How much Na+ is reabsorbed at the collecting duct
3%
What is the main clinical use of diuretics
To manage disorders involving abnormal fluid retention or treating hypertension
Where on the nephron is the most Na+ absorbed (as well as other ions)
At the proximal tubule
Where are organic acids and bases secreted at along the nephron
Proximal tubule
What is hyperuricemia
Too much uric acid in the blood
What acid do diuretics compete with in the bloodstream
Uric acid
What can happen with diuretics and uric acid
Diuretics compete with uric acid and are transferred out of the bloodstream. Because of this, the patient may end up with an abnormally high level of uric acid in the bloodstream, that would otherwise be normally excreted
What part of the nephron is the target portion for diuretics, specifically loop diuretics
Loop of Henle
What drugs cause hyperuricemia more often
Furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide
What happens to the osmolarity of the urine as it passes through the descending loop of Henle
The osmolarity increases because of the countercurrent mechanism that induces water reabsorption at this part of the nephron
What effect does the increase in osmolarity at the loop of henle have on Na+
It increases the salt concentration 3 fold
Where is one site along the nephron that osmotic diuretics works
Descending loop of Henle
Which portion of the nephron is impermeable to water
Ascending loop of Henle
What part of the nephron does loop diuretics work on
The work on the ascending loop of Henle because it blocks Na+ reabsorption at that sight. It is also the place along the nephron that is impermeable to water
What kind of diuretics work best at the site of the distal tubule
Thiazide diuretics
What happens at the the distal tubule
Mostly just Cl- is reabsorbed, also impermeable to water
Where on the nephron do antidiuretics work (ADH)
The collecting duct
What types of drugs work best on the proximal tubule
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
What types of drugs work on the descending limb and part of the proximal tubule
Osmotic diuretcs
What types of drugs work best on the ascending loop
Loop diuretics
What drugs work best on the distal tubule
Thiazide diuretics
What drugs work best on the collecting duct
Antiduretics or K+ sparing diuretics
Common causes of edema
- Heart failure
- Hepatic ascites
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Premenstrual edema
What happens with heart failure
The heart cannot sustain sufficient CO, and the kidneys sense a decrease in blood volume, so they respond by increasing Na+ reabsorption and fluid retention. However, the heart cannot keep up because the CO is so low
What type of diuretics are commonly used to treat heart failure
Loop diuretics
What happens with hepatic ascites
Blood flow in portal system is obstructed which increases portal pressure. This in combo with a decreased osmotic pressure in the blood causes fluid to escape from portal system into the abdomen
What is nephrotic syndrome
Disease state of kidneys that causes the glomerulus to allow plasma proteins into the filtrate. This decreases blood osmolarity, resulting in edema
Which diuretic category is commonly used to treat hypertension
Thiazides
Thiazides
Most widely used diuretics, sulfonamide derivatives
What is another name for thiazides
Ceiling diuretics because adding any more drug does not increase the response (aka urine output)
What is the mechanism of action thiazides
Inhibit tubular resorption of Na+ and Cl- ions (at the distal tubule)
What are two commonly used thiazides
- Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
2. Chlorthalidone (hygroton)
How do thiazides act specifically on the tubule
Their site of action is on the luminal membrane of the tubule so they must be excreted into the lumen to be effective
What happens if kidney function is impaired when using thiazides
They lose their efficacy because the diuretic cannot get into the tubule to act on its site of mechanism
What are the results of thiazides
- H20, Na+, Cl- K+ excreted,
- does not affect acid-base status of blood.
- Aid in lowering peripheral vascular resistance and relaxing arterioles of smooth muscle
Uses for thiazides
- Hypertension
- Heart failure (only if loop diuretics are not enough)
- Hypercalciuria
- Diabetes
Why does thiazide work so well for BP regulation
Because it lowers the BP without having a huge diuretic effect (very little diuretic action happens at the distal tubule)
Adverse effects of thiazides
- K+ depletion - most frequent problem
- Hyponatremia - may occur if too much water lost (hypovolemia) because body activates ADH which is an antidiuretic
- Hyperuricemia (gout)
- Volume depletion - hypotension if too long
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperglycemia
What are common loop diuretics
- Furosemide (lasix)
- Ethacrynic acid (edecrin)
- Bumetanide
Which diuretics are the most efficient
Loop diuretics because 25-30% of na+ reabsorption occurs at the ascending loop
What affect do loop diuretics have on ca2+
Increase ca2+ content in the urine (different than thiazides - that decrease ca in the urine)
Uses of loop diuretics
- Drug of choice for reducing pulmonary edema or heart failure
- Treating hypercalcemia (because they increase Ca concentration in urine)
Adverse effects of loop diuretics
- Ototoxicity - hearing issues
- Hyperuricemia - loops compete with uric acid, which increase the acid level in bloodstream
- Acute hypovolemia - severe reduction in blood volume that may be threatening
- K+ depletion
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypomagnesemia
Where do K+ sparing diuretics act
On the collecting tubule
How do K+ sparing diuretics work (MOA)
Inhibit Na+ reabsoprtion and K+ excretion (Na+/K+ exchange interference)
MOA of K+ sparing diuretics
The diuretics competitively bind to aldosterone receptors. This blocks the resorption of Na+ and K+ secretion. Thus holding on to K+
Uses of K+ sparing diuretics
- Diuretic - very inefficient due to collecting duct target
- K+ sparing (given with other diuretics, i.e. with thiazides in order to prevent hypokalemia)
- Hyper aldosteronism
- Heart failure
Type of K+ sparing drug
Spironolactone and eplerenone
Adverse effects of spironolactone
- Causes gastric upset
- Dizziness/headache
- gynecomastia
- Hyperkalemia
What is a drug that is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
Acetazolamide
What does acetazolamide do
Inhibits the enzyme carbonic anhydrase in the proximal tubule
How does acetazolamide work
Causes a decrease in the ability to exchange Na+ for H+, which leads to mild diuretic effects. Blocks Na+ reabsorption, decreases H+ secretion at proximal tubule. inhibits bicarb reabsorption
Uses of acetazolamide
- Glaucoma
2. Altitude sickness
What are two types of osmotic diuretics
- Mannitol
2. Urea
What is an adverse reaction of acetazolamide
Metabolic acidosis (because you are not able to excrete H+, it is being blocked).
Kidney stones
K+ depletion
What is the main function of osmotic diuretics
To increase urinary output rather than Na+ excretion. Used to maintain urine flowing following trauma or an incident that increases toxic substances in the kidneys
Volume depletion
Occurs when too much Na+ is lost and hence too much water follows
Azotemia
Elevation in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Caused from insufficient filtering of the blood by the kidneys
Diuretic resistance
Occurs when the patient cannot get rid of the fluid even with a diuretic (seen in heart failure patients)