Nowadays, many medications have been created to eliminate edema. But some of them have unpleasant side effects. Doctors often prescribe Veroshpiron for swelling of the legs. It easily removes excess water from body tissues without affecting the beneficial trace element potassium. We will tell you more about how to use it correctly in this article.
The potassium-sparing diuretic substance present in the drug serves as an antagonist of the hormone that is synthesized in the adrenal glands - aldosterone. Spironolactone eliminates water and sodium retention in the nephrons of the kidneys. The medicine does not allow urea and potassium to be removed from tissues, but easily removes chlorine, sodium and excess fluid.
The active components of capsules and tablets reduce the acidity of urine, which is important in the treatment of a number of diseases of the urinary system. The diuretic effect of Veroshpiron begins to appear on days 2–5. After administration, the drug is quickly and almost completely eliminated by the stomach and intestines.
About 98% of the composition is combined with blood serum components. The highest concentration of the substance in plasma is detected 2–4 hours after taking tablets or capsules. It is excreted mainly in urine in the form of metabolites. A small part is excreted through the intestines. Metabolites may accumulate due to excess potassium or renal failure.
The active ingredient of the drug is spironolactone. Auxiliary ingredients: silicon, magnesium, talc, lactose, corn starch. Available in flat, round tablets, with a bevel, a specific odor and the inscription of the name of the drug in Latin letters on one side. Packed in cardboard or propylene boxes.
Capsules – 50 and 100 mg, elastic gelatin, cap – yellowish, not transparent. The body is light and impenetrable. The contents of the capsules look like white granular powder.
Experts recommend taking the drug Veroshpiron for the following pathologies:
Patients are often interested in what dosage to use the medicine for swelling of the legs. For adults there are two options:
The daily dose can be reduced to 25 mg (depending on effectiveness). The dose for support is prescribed individually. The reception is divided into 2 times during the day. For edema caused by heart disease - 100-200 mg 2-3 times a day.
For children over 3 years old, a dose is prescribed at the rate of 3 mg per 1 kg of weight. The medication taken orally is divided into several parts or taken once a day. Veroshpiron is not chewed, but swallowed whole, washed down with the required amount of water.
The duration of administration should be at least 5 days simultaneously with other diuretics. Increasing urination helps lower blood pressure and relieve swelling in the legs. The effect will be clearly visible only on day 5. The drug Veroshpiron does not affect the kidneys and does not disrupt the functioning of the body.
After 5 days, the dose is adjusted and, if necessary, increased by 3 times the original. It is advisable to take the medication in the morning or afternoon so as not to interrupt a restful night's sleep.
Depending on the patient’s well-being, the following side effects sometimes occur:
After stopping the drug, most side effects gradually disappear.
Many medications cannot control leg swelling. Veroshpiron is effective, but it is customary not to prescribe it:
With great caution, the drug is recommended: for liver pathologies and cirrhosis, for elderly patients, for metabolic acidosis, for diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy, during surgical interventions under local and general anesthesia, as well as for menstrual irregularities.
From patient reviews, it is known that cases of overdose are rare. If this happens, then all side effects worsen. The following symptoms may also appear:
If an overdose occurs, you should quickly rinse the stomach with plenty of water (drink a lot and induce a gag reflex). Then use caffeine to increase blood pressure. For hyperkalemia, doctors prescribe dextrose and insulin. There is no special antidote for Veroshpiron. In emergency cases, hemodialysis is performed.
The list of medications that expectant mothers can take is small. Many medications harm not only the woman, but also the fetus. Among the medications prescribed to pregnant women is Veroshpiron. The list of contraindications includes a clause about the undesirability of using it for children and pregnant women. But some gynecologists prescribe it for treatment.
Scientists have not conducted enough research, but life observations show that no cases of fetal pathology were found when taking this drug. No pathologies were also found in children taking Veroshpiron. Therefore, the medicine is prescribed to the groups of patients under consideration. However, other doctors believe that there are many other remedies from which you can choose ones that are safe for health.
It is much more rational to use the drug when planning pregnancy. In addition to the diuretic effect, it can also lower the level of male hormones. Often it is their large number that prevents fertilization.
Sometimes Veroshpiron is also used in pediatrics as a diuretic. The dose and duration of administration are determined by the doctor, and parents are advised to strictly follow his instructions. Although the contraindications indicate age up to 3 years, in hospital settings the medication is sometimes prescribed even to infants. Reception and doses are strictly controlled by specialists.
When prescribing Veroshpiron, be sure to tell your doctor about other medications used in the treatment of concomitant diseases. This medication can interact with a number of pharmaceuticals:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs weaken its effect. A more detailed description of interactions with various drugs can be found in the instructions.
The cost of Veroshpiron depends on the form of release, as well as the city or pharmacy selling the medicine. When you decide to buy it, check prices in several places. Their range is:
The medicine can be purchased at a pharmacy with a doctor's prescription. Drugs included in the same group with this drug are spironolactone, ATC group, Lasix, mannitol. They all have similar diuretic properties. Before use, consultation with a doctor is required.
Often in the evening, adults discover an unpleasant symptom. These are swollen feet. When swelling occurs, you immediately feel a feeling of heaviness in your legs. Even small feet turn into something like bedside tables. It happens that this disease does not cause pain symptoms - at least at the initial stage. But in most cases, people understand that immediate action needs to be taken. It must be admitted that swelling occurs even without wearing uncomfortable shoes - at least with certain diseases.
This does not mean that shoes have nothing to do with swelling. Sometimes it’s enough to stop wearing uncomfortable shoes and your feet will look normal. In most cases, you want to have the means at hand to immediately get rid of the unpleasant formation. But usually, to get rid of swelling, you need a course of treatment, which takes some time. If you have doubts and sincerely care about your health, then it is better to consult a doctor who will accurately determine the cause of the illness and, accordingly, give a good prescription. Let's try to take a closer look at both of these means.
Often the root of the problem is cardiovascular and metabolic failures, or kidney disease. In this case, treatment is usually used to cure all manifestations of the underlying disease. At the same time, we recommend keeping in mind several tips, the purpose of which is to significantly reduce the severity of clinical signs of the disease.
That is, in this case it is necessary:
Stop wearing uncomfortable shoes that constrict your feet, with completely flat or excessively high heels.
Reduce salt and liquid foods in the diet.
Minimize standing or sitting.
Maintain an active lifestyle with maximum mobility.
Do not overuse medications, the purpose of which is to provoke swelling of the legs, replacing them with harmless analogues.
Be as careful as possible to avoid injury.
All these are simple measures that give noticeable results. In addition, we recommend doing simple exercises every day:
Having taken the starting position, sitting or standing, try to press your heel to the floor and lift your toe up several times, then again lean it against the floor surface and lift your heel several times in a row.
Try to lift a small diameter ball or pencil placed on the floor with your bare foot.
Observing the order, spread and press your toes more tightly together.
Walk, if possible, on the very tips of your feet.
Make rotational movements with your feet, moving them smoothly.
Bend your toes, straightening them as quickly as possible.
Stand on your toes and do a few easy jumps.
Patients often ask for a modern topical remedy. Sometimes it's simply necessary. Then decongestant medications are prescribed. According to the rules, drug therapy for leg swelling is based on special ointments and drugs called diuretics.
Now the list of these funds is very large. You can use gels whose task is to eliminate inflammation and relieve symptoms, products aimed at treating venous stagnation, as well as compounds that improve blood circulation. You cannot choose such means at random. But, nevertheless, it is necessary to mention the group of the most popular drugs, which have a minimum of contraindications. That is, they are safely recommended to almost all users.
Ointments for swelling of the legs - a large section that includes very well-known names. Among them:
Troxevasin is an ointment that has a strengthening effect on the walls of veins and capillaries, which is used to obtain a cooling, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, angioprotective and analgesic effect. The basis of the composition is troxerutin.
Heparin ointment is a drug whose task is to improve blood circulation, have an anti-inflammatory effect and dissolve microthrombi. The composition includes heparin, anesthesin and benzyl ester of nicotinic acid.
Essaven Gel strengthens veins and capillaries, at the same time eliminating microscopic blood clots and activating blood circulation. It is created based on the composition of escin, heparin and sodium salt.
Venitan is a herbal venotonic drug based on horse chestnut extract, which has the property of strengthening venous and capillary structures. The ointment is used because of its pronounced angioprotective, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects.
Lyoton 1000 is a gel for anti-inflammatory, anti-exudative, anti-edema and anti-thrombotic effects. The basis of the drug is sodium heparin.
It is often recommended to take a course of diuretics for leg swelling.
There are a number of diuretins that are considered the most effective. Among them:
Decoctions and infusions of a diuretic nature based on some medicinal leaves, herbs and fruits (for their preparation use horsetail, bearberry, lingonberry, birch leaves, black currant, flax seeds, juniper fruits, strawberries, rose hips).
A composition based on the juices of rowan and viburnum (one glass per serving), lemon juice, honey (100 g of both), as well as 50 g. phytolysin (take 20 g solution after eating).
This is a list of drugs that have individual contraindications. They can have a range of side effects. We repeat that only a doctor who examined the patient during an in-person appointment can trust the prescription of medications, determine their dosage, and advise on the procedure for use.
In addition to sedentary work and improper shoes, you often have to deal with other causes of edema - excess weight, heavy physical activity, or sedentary work. Much more dangerous are the other diseases mentioned - kidney failure or varicose veins. Patients understand that the best way to save their health is to eliminate the root cause.
Based on the location of the tumor, we can draw a conclusion about the cause. Thus, heart problems lead to swelling of the ankles. Most often, this symptom occurs in older people. If the disease occurs in a young person, then most often it is due to vascular disorders.
If swelling occurs frequently, with regularity, you need to consult a doctor. It is better to come for a consultation with a therapist, and then follow his recommendations, taking tests on time and visiting a cardiologist, urologist or phlebologist. In particular, the latter’s specialization is the diagnosis and treatment of venous diseases.
Treatment of such a phenomenon as swelling due to weak muscles is associated with a deterioration in their basic function. Thus, the outflow of lymph is disrupted, which leads to certain consequences.
You can help your muscles by strengthening them. To do this you need to master several exercises:
“Scissors”: lying on the floor, swing your legs sideways and cross them.
Birch, or half-birch. This is a complex stand on the shoulder blades. In case of difficulties, beginners lean against the wall, and if there is an assistant, he can hold his feet.
A small complex for the press.
Several exercises with dumbbells for the chest muscles.
This is a small complex that will help train the main muscle systems. They take part in lymphatic drainage, and after some time the legs become much healthier.
Often the legs begin to suffer from swelling after a hard day at work. In particular, if you are forced to be in one position all day. To relieve fatigue of the lower extremities, you can resort to special baths with sea salt. This is necessary to relax swollen areas, and a massage with light pinches will help with this. These are special finger movements, reminiscent of the action of a corresponding device with a similar name.
Thus, contrasting foot baths have proven themselves well. Keep your feet in hot (5-7 minutes) and cold (but not longer than 10-15 seconds!) types of water. But this measure is unacceptable if the veins are dilated.
We have already mentioned pharmaceutical ointments and gels for treating this symptom. In addition to them, all ointments that contain rutin and heparin, or horse chestnut, fight edema. These substances help strengthen the capillary system. If the drug was recommended by a doctor, the course should be started immediately.
A good tonic is foot baths. Their duration should not exceed 15-20 minutes. They are well complemented by baking soda, table salt or sea salt. The following procedure gives good results: throw a handful of salt and 1 tbsp into 3 liters of water. soda
Swelling often occurs as a result of fatigue. Then they need to be hardened. They resort to the help of so-called contrast baths. Your legs need to be lowered and raised, alternately dipping them into fairly hot water. Its temperature should be +40-50 degrees. They are then immediately immersed in cold water. You need to do 8-10 repetitions. You need to warm them up well enough - they should stay in a warm liquid at least 3 times longer. Complete the procedure only with cold water. Parts of the infusion of chamomile, linden blossom, and nettle raw materials are diluted in hot water.
These measures are unacceptable if varicose veins or thrombosis are diagnosed. After carrying out a water procedure, regardless of its type, those who suffer from varicose veins and thrombosis need to massage the cream into the feet and legs.
A foot massage is a must. As a result, the skin becomes smooth and elastic. It starts from the foot, gradually moving up to the knee joint. This same path needs to be walked 3-4 times. Next, you need to massage each finger, following the direction from tip to base. Having stretched the entire foot, the massage is completed by stroking, repeating the circle 3-4 times.
How much movement is needed to overcome such a disease? Even just walking around your workspace can help sore feet. Many people ask: will yoga help with this disease? It is often used as an additional remedy to help relax all muscles. Periodic rest is indicated in a position where the legs are slightly elevated. This helps reduce swelling. Sitting with your legs crossed is contraindicated: this can lead to lymph stagnation.
We recommend setting aside the right amount of time for sleep. Lack of sleep is a weapon against the thyroid gland and its health. This is as important as choosing loose, comfortable shoes. In case of varicose veins, it is better to forget about stockings. If ill-chosen shoes are used, the foot feels compressed, and this complicates the process of outflow of fluids, which is already difficult.
Doctors often advise reducing the amount of salt you consume. This is good advice. Thanks to this, the danger of such tumors significantly decreases. This applies not only to the legs, but to the entire body as a whole. A person should limit himself to 1 g per day. sodium, which is 1/4 tsp. salt. This portion is given to us by food in which this seasoning is absolutely not added. If you want to improve the taste of food, it is better to choose the right spices. Salt in salads is replaced with vinegar or lemon juice. And substitutes for salt in fish and potatoes are green onions and parsley. The poultry is flavored with tarragon, the meat with rosemary. And before going to bed - around 19-00 - it is better to stop drinking liquids.
Found an error in the text? Select it and a few more words, press Ctrl + Enter
Their choice, again, depends on the causes of the disease. Traditional medicine offers a large number of recipes that will help those suffering from this disease:
A decoction including raw materials such as birch leaves and buds, linden flowers and horsetail.
Astragalus helps well against swelling of the legs. A decoction is made based on it. It fights swelling while improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
You can resort to some other simple methods. For example, you can create a simple solution. It is based on 10 liters of heated water, in which a glass of salt, a spoonful of soda and the same amount of iodine tincture are dissolved. The workpiece should be infused for half an hour, and then the legs are lowered into it. The course lasts one and a half weeks, and procedures are carried out every day.
Parsley roots help a lot. They are washed and finely chopped, and then poured with boiling water. Calculation: one tablespoon of ingredients per half liter of water. Use a thermos to infuse. Infusion time is eight hours. Drink a tablespoon.
Hawthorn flowers are prepared in several ways. First, you need to mix an equal volume of hawthorn flowers and fruits. Then two tablespoons of the composition are poured with half a liter of boiling water. Leave it to steep for half an hour, and then take it strained, distributing the glass into three doses per day.
Use grated potatoes. This is a recipe for “urgent” help. The gruel is distributed over the ankle; for this you will need to chop several potatoes. You need to put cling film on top. For insulation, wrap your legs with a cotton bandage. The compress is kept for two hours, and then a new one is made.
Keep fresh birch leaves in your house. They are poured into linen bags or pillowcases. The legs should fit in them so that the volume of the leaves reaches the knees. On the shins, accordingly, this level should reach two centimeters. This procedure will take about 3 hours. When the procedure time is over, the leaves can be replaced, refreshing them.
Use bearberry and lingonberry. They must be taken in equal parts. Then take a couple of tablespoons of the mixture, brew it with a glass of boiling water and place it in a water bath for half an hour. Don't forget to cover it with a lid. Then the product must be cooled and strained. Using cold water, the infusion is brought to its original volume. You should drink the infusion per day, dividing it into three doses.
Parsley, or rather its root, is an excellent remedy that is included in several recipes. It is ground together with the root and poured with half a liter of boiling water. Infusion time – 9 hours. The infusion is diluted with the juice of one lemon. intake - a third of a glass, three times a day.
We have already mentioned baths with salt and soda. There is another option for the procedure. Dissolve half a glass of salt (sea or table) in 2 liters. cold water. You need to dip a thick cloth there, a towel will do. This is a future compress; it is placed on the lumbar region. This universal decongestant treatment option is repeated for a week and a half before bedtime.
Field clover helps a lot. A handful of it is washed and cut into smaller pieces. It is poured with a liter of water, placed in a container on the fire and boiled for three minutes. Then it is tightly covered with a lid. Infusion time is an hour. The decoction is filtered and taken three times a day, dividing one glass of liquid into this amount.
A good example is such raw materials as linden flowers, birch leaves and buds, and horsetail extract. Let us remind you once again that decoctions and infusions are made from them. To the recipes we gave above, we’ll add one more. It is based on 2-3 tablespoons of horsetail, knotweed and birch buds. They are mixed. The resulting mixture in the amount of 1 teaspoon is poured with a glass of boiling water and left for about 30 minutes. Then they need to be expressed. The course is 3 days, including 1 day break. Drink a tablespoon after meals 3 times a day. The full course should last three weeks.
In addition to the baths mentioned above, rubbing with ice cubes is used. The bath should be cold enough. The procedure time is 5-10 minutes. Perform a pinching massage - we described its technique above. Add a few tablespoons of pine extract to the water, and keep your feet in this water for 15-20 minutes. This greatly helps relieve leg fatigue and also combat swelling.
Garlic is often used. The head of garlic is crushed and then poured with a glass of boiling water. When the paste has cooled, rub it on the swelling area, leaving for half an hour. Then it is washed off. Treat this recipe with caution if you have varicose veins. In this case, hot baths and showers are generally contraindicated. Because of them, the blood becomes stagnant and the blood vessels dilate.
Of course, we do not mean purchased juices from the supermarket, but those made independently from fruits and vegetables available to us in our latitudes.
The most popular urinary plant is watermelon. Its juice has the unique property of not only removing fluid from the body, but also saturating it with healthy sugars. This juice does not require a special preparation method. Just eat watermelon as much as you want.
Grape juice will help strengthen blood vessels and remove excess fluid from the body. Take it 1 hour before meals, starting with a serving of 0.5 glasses and increasing the single dose to 2 glasses. The course of treatment lasts up to 1.5 months.
Work on getting rid of swelling in the legs can begin at any time. Take care of your feet today, and tomorrow you will be able to conquer the whole world with an easy step.
We provide simple recommendations that will help everyone. Let's add new ones to those already written above:
It is better to change shoes at least once during the day. This is a special recommendation for those who like to wear high heels. Let there be replacement shoes at work, and it is better to give preference to soft models without heels.
You should not wear the same pair for more than two days in a row.
If you have a tendency to edema, it makes sense to purchase special therapeutic stockings, the purpose of which is to prevent the development of edema.
Skip the salt. Table salt is harmful to health by retaining fluid in the body.
It is better to drink less liquid than before, especially after 7 pm.
If you have a sedentary job, find ways to change the position of your lower extremities more often. Try to take a standing position as often as possible.
When sleeping, place your feet on a pillow. This measure allows you to improve the outflow of blood and lymph, and will relieve leg fatigue.
If the swelling is not due to an orthopedic reason, then it is important to choose the right shoes. It should not press or dangle. Fingers should be in a natural position. We have already written about heels above.
Don't limit yourself to traditional recipes. On sale in special departments you can find a special orthopedic variety of compression socks and tights. They are produced specifically so that the vessels can remain in good shape, preventing blood stagnation. These are products of a medicinal nature. Their task is to transfer the strongest compression to the bottom of the lower extremities. The weakest effect is on the upper part. This load distribution allows blood flow to function normally. We recommend knee socks or tights, since stockings are often not the best choice for a diagnosis such as varicose veins. Because of them, the vessels of the thighs are tightened, creating additional stress on the circulatory system.
How to eliminate swelling of the legs? This is a question that is very important to many patients. But it could have been avoided if people were aware of the necessary precautions.
Simple exercises will help avoid fluid stagnation.
Place your right foot on your left, lift your left toe to its greatest height. Repeat the same for the right leg. Stand on your tiptoes and stay there for a few seconds. Do 10 low, easy jumps on your tiptoes.
Sit on a chair and raise your legs, making circular movements with your feet. At the same time, bend your toes down, immediately straightening them sharply.
Place your foot on the floor and move the load from one point to another.
As we can see, the preventive measures are similar to what is recommended for treating swelling of the legs. This is an effective, uncomplicated, universal technique. You can add sports activities, but in this case you will need the supervision of an instructor. So, in addition to yoga, water aerobics gives good results.
Author of the article: Nina Vladimirovna Sokolova, naturopathic doctor, herbalist
Diuretic tablets for edema are taken to speed up the removal of fluid from the body by increasing the volume of urine excreted. Diuretics (diuretics) can eliminate swelling of any localization that occurs against the background of renal pathologies, heart failure, arterial hypertension and other diseases.
The mechanism of action of diuretics is aimed at removing excess fluid, salts, excess sodium that accumulates in tissues from the body, and increasing the volume of urine. Excessive sodium content in the blood provokes increased vascular tone, their lumens narrow, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure. This is a dangerous condition, especially for people with chronic arterial hypertension. Taking diuretics helps flush out sodium, dilate blood vessels and stabilize blood pressure. Taking diuretics for heart and kidney problems helps get rid of edema and improve the functioning of internal organs.
Diuretics are prescribed strictly according to indications and are used for the following conditions:
Diuretic tablets for swelling of the legs are prescribed when the cause of this condition is renal, hepatic, venous and cardiac pathologies, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, allergic and infectious diseases, diseases of the lymphatic and endocrine systems. The indications for the use of diuretic tablets for facial swelling are the same, but they are prescribed for long-lasting, massive swelling, after a thorough examination and identification of possible contraindications.
Diuretic tablets for swelling of the legs help restore the acid-base balance; they are used for intoxication of the body and in sports medicine.
All diuretics can be divided into several large groups:
These drugs provide a quick diuretic effect due to their direct effect on kidney filtration and are an emergency remedy in the event of massive edema. However, the effect of diuresis is short-term (no more than 6 hours) and, along with urine, potassium and magnesium are lost, which negatively affects the functioning of the heart muscle.
Loop diuretics are effective for impaired renal function; they do not affect cholesterol levels and do not provoke an increase in blood sugar levels. The main disadvantage is the abundance of side effects, so they are taken in short courses.
Diuretics of this group best alleviate the condition of hypertension. They are prescribed as part of a complex treatment; the dose of the drug must be selected by the doctor, since the drugs can reduce the level of potassium and magnesium, and increase the concentration of sugar and uric acid. Thiazides inhibit the absorption of sodium ions and remove it from the body along with excess fluid.
This mechanism of action allows the use of thiazides to eliminate external and internal edema in hypertension, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome and cirrhosis of the liver. The active ingredients of the drugs are quickly absorbed and within 30 minutes they have the necessary therapeutic effect, which lasts for 12 hours.
Just like tazides, this group of medications belongs to the class of saluretics and acts at the level of the distal tubules of the kidneys. However, the diuretic effect of taking such drugs is rather weak and develops slowly, within 2-3 days from the start of therapy.
Therefore, potassium-sparing drugs are prescribed as part of complex therapy in combination with tazides in order to prevent potassium loss in the urine. Diuretics can be prescribed for the treatment of patients with gout and diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis and myocarditis with edematous syndrome.
The therapeutic effect of their use develops within 2 weeks from the start of administration and reaches a maximum after 2 months. In terms of their pharmacological action, this group of drugs is close to tazides and is used to lower blood pressure. Diuretics are prescribed with caution for severe kidney damage and disturbances of water and electrolyte metabolism.
Drugs in this group can cause a number of serious adverse reactions from the cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems. Names of diuretic tablets for edema:
In addition to these drugs, Diacarb (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) is used to reduce edema. The diuretic is taken for a short time so as not to provoke acid-base imbalance. Diacarb is effective for edema due to chronic cardiac and pulmonary failure.
These are strong diuretic tablets for edema, which are prescribed as “emergency aid” to accelerate the removal of excess fluid and lower blood pressure. The effect of the drug from the group of loop diuretics begins within 30-40 minutes after administration and lasts for 4-6 hours. Furosemide is effective in relieving hypertensive crises, it is prescribed for pulmonary and cardiac edema, and is used as part of the complex treatment of heart failure. This remedy helps alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman with late toxicosis, but in the early stages its use is prohibited.
Taking the drug allows you to reduce blood pressure, relieve stress on the heart muscle, improve the removal of excess fluid in liver and kidney pathologies, and thereby prevent the threat of pulmonary and cerebral edema. The main disadvantage of Furosemide is that, along with the liquid, it removes salts, potassium and magnesium and thereby disrupts the water-electrolyte balance.
For this reason, they try to use Furosemide for a short time, as needed. With longer use, potassium-containing drugs must be taken in parallel with the diuretic. Furosemide is one of the most inexpensive diuretic drugs; a pack of tablets (50 pieces) costs an average of 50 rubles.
A drug with a moderate diuretic effect from the group of tazide diuretics. The therapeutic effect occurs within an hour after taking the tablet and lasts for 6-12 hours (depending on the nature of the edema and the capacity of the kidneys). The long-lasting and mild effect of the drug allows it to be used as part of the complex treatment of hypertension, chronic internal edema in kidney diseases, gestosis during pregnancy, as well as to reduce intracranial and intraocular pressure.
Hypothiazide, like other tazide diuretics, should not be used for a long time, since they increase the excretion of potassium ions from the body and can provoke cardiac complications.
Hypothiazide does not have many contraindications, but the list of adverse reactions is long. Improper use can lead to disturbances in water and electrolyte balance and other serious consequences. When treating cardiac edema, the drug cannot be combined with antiarrhythmic drugs. The dose of the diuretic, frequency of administration and duration of use is determined by the doctor and always recommends taking potassium supplements in parallel. The price of Hypothiazide in pharmacies averages 100 rubles per pack of tablets (20 pcs.).
A drug from the group of potassium-sparing diuretics, with a mild diuretic effect. These are good diuretic tablets for edema that do not cause potassium loss and associated complications. The therapeutic effect develops within 2-3 days after the start of administration, but continues for a long time and persists for several days after discontinuation of the drug.
Veroshpiron is rarely used as a standalone remedy; it is prescribed in combination with potent diuretics to prevent the loss of potassium and magnesium. The drug is used for chronic heart failure, cirrhosis, hypertension, nephrosis, and to eliminate swelling in the late stage of pregnancy. The cost of Veroshpiron is about 60 rubles per package (20 pieces).
A diuretic with a hypotensive and diuretic effect of moderate intensity. Acts directly in the vessels and tissues of the kidneys, increases the excretion of magnesium and potassium, promotes the formation and excretion of a large volume of urine. The duration of the therapeutic effect reaches 24 hours. The drug effectively reduces the load on the heart and reduces the severity of edema of various origins.
The advantages of Indapamide make it possible to use it for arterial hypertension to reduce blood pressure and maintain it at an optimal level throughout the day. At the same time, the diuretic does not interfere with the functional abilities of the kidneys and can be used without harm to health for a long time. Contraindications for use include cerebrovascular accidents, pregnancy, lactation, severe pathologies of the liver and kidneys, hypokalemia, anuria (cessation of urine output).
A drug with a mild diuretic effect and a weak hypotensive effect. Recommended for use for edema of various etiologies, high blood pressure, and at the initial stage of liver cirrhosis. The maximum diuretic effect appears 2 hours after administration and persists for 12-15 hours. The drug is approved for long-term use and can be prescribed even to children. At the same time, the dosage of the drug should be strictly observed so as not to provoke side effects - dyspeptic symptoms or hyponatremia.
The disadvantages of the drug include poor solubility (which can cause the formation of kidney stones) and the risk of developing hyperkalemia. In this case, excess potassium is deposited in the tubules, as a result of which the urine changes color and turns blue. This effect often causes serious anxiety and panic in patients taking the drug. Among other contraindications for use, the manufacturer indicates pregnancy, lactation, individual sensitivity, severe liver and kidney damage. The price of Triamterene is from 250 rubles per pack of 50 pcs.
A drug from the group of loop diuretics with a strong and rapid diuretic effect. The therapeutic effect occurs an hour after taking the tablet and lasts up to 18 hours, which makes the drug easier to tolerate. Torsemide reduces blood pressure well, which makes it possible to use it to alleviate the condition of hypertensive crises, as well as to eliminate edema syndrome in diseases of the heart, liver and kidneys.
This drug has many contraindications and side effects, so it is prescribed strictly according to indications. The dosage of the drug and duration of administration are determined by the attending physician. Torsemide should not be prescribed during pregnancy and lactation, with low blood pressure, arrhythmia, hypersensitivity to components, diabetes mellitus, gout, or in the presence of vascular disorders.
However, compared to Furosemide, this drug is safer, less disrupts the water-electrolyte balance and does not reduce the concentration of potassium, magnesium and lipids in the blood so much. This is the most expensive drug among other diuretics; the price of a package of 10 tablets reaches 900 rubles.
A drug with a weak diuretic effect, sparing potassium, but promoting the excretion of chlorine and sodium. The diuretic effect is insignificant, but in combination with loop or tazide diuretics, Amiloride enhances their therapeutic effect and provides a potassium-sparing effect.
The drug is used in the treatment of heart failure and hypertension to eliminate edema syndrome, it can be taken for a long time. The advantage of a diuretic is the minimal number of side effects. This drug should not be prescribed for hypotension, hyperkalemia, severe pathologies of the kidneys and liver, or hypersensitivity to components. The price of a diuretic in a pharmacy chain is from 200 rubles.
In reviews of diuretic tablets for edema, patients most often mention the drugs Furosemide, Indapamide and Torasemide as the most effective and fast-acting agents that alleviate the condition of hypertensive crisis, cardiac and renal edema. At the same time, many talk about side effects and advise taking diuretics with caution and for a short time.
Along with the diuretic, the doctor prescribes potassium and magnesium supplements, since they are washed out in the urine and this negatively affects the functioning of the heart. As a result, after the course of treatment, my health improves, the swelling disappears, the load on the heart decreases, and I feel much better.
Its effect does not begin immediately, but lasts longer, so it allows you to maintain blood pressure at a normal level throughout the day. Now I am taking this remedy in courses.
Swelling of the legs is quite common, both in older people and in young people. Their appearance can be caused by sedentary work or, conversely, long periods of being “on your feet.” But in most cases, edema signals the presence of disorders in the body that require treatment. Diuretics for swelling of the legs are used to speed up the removal of excess fluid from the body.
Only a doctor should prescribe medications with diuretic effects. Self-medication can lead to serious consequences, because uncontrolled use of diuretics is dangerous by disrupting the water-salt balance of the body and the development of other negative conditions. In addition, there are situations when taking diuretics is completely prohibited.
When choosing a specific remedy for swelling, the doctor takes into account the cause of its appearance, as well as the characteristics of the patient’s body. Moreover, if your legs begin to swell due to cardiac dysfunction, venous insufficiency or kidney dysfunction, then in addition to taking diuretics, you will need to use medications to treat the underlying disease.
In the absence of treatment for the underlying disease, diuretics will only eliminate the cosmetic defect, that is, the swelling of the legs itself, which will immediately return after stopping the use of diuretics. In any case, the best diuretic is the one prescribed by the doctor.
Diuretics are a fairly large group of drugs that differ in their characteristics. Because of this, they can be classified according to different characteristics. Highlight:
For each patient, taking into account his condition and the severity of edema, a remedy with the necessary properties is selected.
Diuretics for swelling of the legs of this group exhibit a powerful but short-lived effect. They exert their influence in the loop of Henle, blocking the reabsorption of sodium ions. This ensures an increase in the excretion of water from the body along with microelements.
In most cases, loop diuretics are used only in emergency situations when it is necessary to quickly relieve swelling. If necessary, they can be used in short courses. In such cases, treatment begins with a minimum dose, gradually increasing it to the optimal one. Drugs of this group are indicated for use in cases of swelling due to heart failure or renal dysfunction.
The most famous and prescribed drug among loop diuretics is Furosemide or Lasix. In addition to it, the following can be used: Uregit (ethacrynic acid), Trifas, Diuver (torasemide).
Furosemide, when taken orally, begins to show its effect after 30-40 minutes, and it persists for 4 hours. Its use is contraindicated during pregnancy, hepatic coma, urinary tract obstruction and hypokalemia.
A loop diuretic for edema has the ability to remove important microelements from the body, in particular magnesium and potassium. Therefore, during long-term treatment with a diuretic, it is recommended to take simultaneous medications that compensate for the deficiency of these microelements.
The action of these drugs is based on preventing the absorption of sodium by the kidneys and its excretion in the urine. At the same time, the amount of fluid removed also increases, which helps eliminate swelling of the legs.
Thiazide diuretic tablets for edema have a moderate effect and are used in long courses. By removing water from the body, medications help reduce the amount of circulating blood, which in turn leads to a decrease in blood pressure. Therefore, the use of thiazide diuretics is indicated for edema due to hypertension, cardiac dysfunction and renal dysfunction.
One of the advantages of thiazide diuretics is the lack of addiction to them. Thus, despite the duration of administration, the anti-edema remedy always provides the same strength of action and does not require replacement or increase in dose.
Hydrochlorothiazide (Hypothiazide) is most often used to increase diuresis. This drug begins to act approximately 2 hours after ingestion, reaching its maximum diuretic effect after 4 hours. The effect of Hypothiazide is observed within 8-12 hours. It is prohibited to use it during lactation, anuria, severe forms of liver and kidney failure.
During treatment with thiazide diuretics, medications that replenish potassium and magnesium deficiency are also required.
The main distinguishing feature of this group of drugs is that they do not remove potassium from the body along with urine. At the same time, a potassium-sparing diuretic for edema is the weakest remedy, and therefore is used quite rarely in monotherapy. Most often, drugs of this group are prescribed together with loop or thiazide diuretics to prevent excessive excretion of an important microelement.
Potassium-sparing drugs are used for edema associated with disorders of the cardiovascular system. The most famous representative of these diuretics is Spironolactone or Veroshpiron. Its effect begins to appear after about 2-3 days of use. The drug is contraindicated in anuria, hyperkalemia, Addison's disease, pregnancy, acute renal failure.
Osmotic diuretics are used only intravenously in emergency cases in a hospital setting. They exhibit the most powerful diuretic effect and are indicated for cerebral edema, Quincke's edema, as well as edematous syndromes accompanying acute poisoning. Osmotic diuretics include: urea, mannitol and potassium acetate.
In addition to pharmaceuticals, many plants have diuretic properties. Infusions, teas or decoctions of the following raw materials of medicinal plants will help get rid of swelling on the extremities:
In addition to the medicinal herbs themselves, you can buy various diuretic teas and infusions at the pharmacy, which simultaneously contain several plants. Such drugs have a mild diuretic effect with a minimum of side effects.
In some cases, when the legs are swollen due to problems with the kidneys, herbal remedies based on Lespedeza bicolor or Lespedeza capitate can be prescribed. They are a hydroalcoholic extract of this plant, available under the names:
With herbal remedies, as with synthetic diuretics, you should be very careful and take only after consulting a doctor. Together with water, they remove important microelements from the body, which can lead to negative consequences if used for a long time. In addition, all herbal remedies have their own contraindications and limitations of use.
Diuretics (diuretic drugs) specifically affect the functioning of the kidneys and promote accelerated excretion of urine from the body. The mechanism of action of such drugs is based on the ability to inhibit the reabsorption of electrolytes in the renal tubules. With an increase in the volume of secreted electrolytes, a certain amount of fluid is removed.
The first diuretic appeared in the 19th century, when it became known about the mercury drug, which was widely used to treat syphilis. However, in the treatment of this disease, the mercury drug did not show itself in any way, but a noticeable diuretic effect on the human body was discovered.
After some time, the mercury drug was replaced with a less dangerous and toxic substance. Further improvement of diuretics led to the emergence of powerful diuretic drugs.
During treatment with diuretics, active and maintenance therapy are distinguished. During the maintenance phase, diuretics are taken continuously; during active treatment, the use of moderate doses of potent drugs is indicated.
It should be noted that diuretics themselves do not have the desired effect on a diabetic, for this reason they are recommended to be taken together with beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.
First of all, beta blockers are prescribed for type 2 diabetes:
This group of drugs is vital for diabetics whose medical history is complicated by heart failure, coronary heart disease, and in the acute post-infarction period.
For diabetes, diuretics are usually recommended to reduce the symptoms of hypertension and eliminate swelling. It must be taken into account that not every diuretic is allowed to be used for problems with insulin, so self-medication will cause serious damage to health.
The decrease in the oxygen demand of the heart muscle during treatment with diuretics is explained by the removal of tension from myocardial cells, the load on the left ventricle, improved microcirculation in the kidneys, and a decrease in platelet aggregation.
Many patients suffering from arterial hypertension are prescribed thiazide diuretics for a long time, but they cause severe sodium loss. At the same time:
But recent medical studies have shown that the use of diuretics for diabetes produces negative reactions in the body only when taken in higher dosages.
For patients with diabetes mellitus, when taking thiazide diuretics, it is important to consume a sufficient amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, which helps compensate for the loss of sodium, potassium and magnesium. You also need to remember about the possibility of reducing the sensitivity of cells to the hormone insulin. During the period of treatment, it is necessary to keep the blood sugar concentration under control, and if necessary, increase the amount of diuretic.
For swelling of the legs in type 2 diabetes, the doctor may prescribe Indapamide or its derivative Arifon. Both drugs cannot affect carbohydrate metabolism, which is extremely important for problems with glucose. Another advantage of treatment with these diuretics is that the beneficial effect does not depend on the concentration of the drug taken, so you can take only one tablet per day.
Other diuretics are recommended much less frequently for type 2 diabetes, so you can take:
In type 2 diabetes, the use of diuretic drugs can have an undesirable effect such as decreased sensitivity to insulin. This reaction of the body can be observed even without long-term treatment of arterial hypertension.
Other drugs that provide a diuretic effect are used much less frequently, only when certain conditions occur.