Apart from dehydration, use of water pills can lead to dizziness, headaches, low sodium, muscle cramps and increase thirst. Diuretics can also cause menstrual irregularities, increased blood sugar in people with diabetes, rashes and impotence in men.
What are the side effects of water pills?
People taking water pills may experience an allergic reaction to one of the active ingredients such as sulfonylureas, which may result in a skin rash. Side effects including jaundice, dark urine, light stools, fever, muscle weakness or inability to urinate may indicate a serious medical condition and require urgent medical treatment.
Why do water pills make you feel dizzy?
Because water pills can easily change the balance of fluids within the human body, being able to think clearly or even stand without feeling dizzy becomes a chore. 2. Dehydration.
Can you get addicted to water pills?
Abuse of Water Pills. There is a risk of drug abuse with the consumption of diuretic water pills. Although the drugs have no addictive potential, it still has a risk of abuse. This type of abuse can lead to terrible side effects in the long run.
Can water pills cause muscle cramps?
Water pills such as thiazide diuretic that reduce the amount of potassium in the blood may result in muscle cramps, especially in the calf of the leg.
What are the side effects of taking water pills?
“Water Pills” Can Have Serious Side EffectsBloating and constipation.Nausea and Vomiting.Weakness and Fatigue.Muscle cramps.Muscle aches and stiffness.Tingling and Numbness.Heart palpitations.Chest pain.More items...•
Is headache a side effect of hydrochlorothiazide?
SIDE EFFECTS: Upset stomach, dizziness, or headache may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
What are the side effects of the water pill hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide side effectsblood pressure that's lower than normal (especially when standing up after sitting or lying down)dizziness.headache.weakness.erectile dysfunction (trouble getting or keeping an erection)tingling in your hands, legs, and feet.More items...
Do you need to drink more water when taking diuretics?
Doctors often recommend drinking less fluid and taking diuretic medications, or water pills, to flush more water and salt out of the body through urine. The goal of treatment is to reduce swelling, which makes it easier to breathe and helps avoid hospitalization.
Can diuretics cause migraines?
Types of diuretics include: Headache. Loss of appetite. Hair loss.
Should you drink a lot of water when taking hydrochlorothiazide?
Be careful not to become overheated or dehydrated in hot weather while taking hydrochlorothiazide. Talk to your doctor about how much fluid you should be drinking; in some cases drinking too much fluid is just as harmful as not drinking enough fluids.
What happens when you stop taking water pills?
Conclusion: Withdrawal of long-term diuretic treatment in elderly patients leads to symptoms of heart failure or increase in blood pressure to hypertensive values in most cases. Any attempt to withdraw diuretic therapy requires careful monitoring conditions, notably during the initial four weeks.
How much water should I drink while taking a diuretic?
Don't alter the amount of fluid that you normally drink while taking this medicine (a normal amount is approximately 2.5 to 3.5pints (or 1.5 to 2litres) of fluid per day.
What happens if you suddenly stop taking hydrochlorothiazide?
Hydrochlorothiazide does not cause specific withdrawal symptoms, but quitting this medication suddenly can lead to higher blood pressure, heart problems, and an increase in water retention from the underlying medical conditions that the prescription drug treats.
Who should not take water pills?
Ask your doctor if you should avoid or be cautious using diuretics if you:Have severe liver or kidney disease.Are dehydrated.Have an irregular heartbeat.Are in the third trimester of pregnancy and/or have developed high blood pressure during your pregnancy.Are age 65 or older.Have gout.More items...•
What happens if you take a water pill and don't drink enough water?
Diuretics in general trigger your kidneys to release sodium in your urine, which then takes water from your blood, helping you urinate out excess water. With less fluid in your veins, your blood pressure decreases, the medical center explains. As such, these can also contribute to dehydration.
What should you avoid when taking diuretics?
On the other hand, if you're taking a potassium-sparing diuretic, such as amiloride (Midamar), spironolactone (Aldactone), or triamterene (Dyrenium), they may want you to avoid potassium-rich foods, salt substitutes, low-sodium milk, and other sources of potassium.
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What are the side effects of taking water pills?
The most obvious side effects of using a diuretic water pill are: Dehydration. Headaches. Dizziness.
What is water pill?
A water pill is a diuretic used to rid the body of excess water. Some brands of water pills claim it helps with weight loss. Loss of water weight tends to be temporary relief. Based on this pill’s main purpose, it seems you may only lose weight temporarily, not permanently like the company states.
How does thiazide work?
Thiazide water pills work by making the blood vessels in the body relax, helping blood flow more easily. The relaxation of blood vessels is called vasodilation. Thiazide diuretics ease the heart’s blood-pumping function.
What are the ingredients in water pills?
Water Pills Ingredients. The active ingredients in the water pills depend on the class of diuretics it belongs to. Thiazide, loop and potassium-sparing diuretics have radically different active agents. Grouping by class and popular brands, the active agent or chemical in water pills is:
When were water pills first used?
Vogl published his findings in 1920 , and water pills were introduced into the medical landscape. People initially used water pills to treat dropsy and swelling. They have since become a popular treatment for heart conditions and other chronic illnesses.
What is the process of producing excess water from the body called?
The process of producing excess urine is called diuresis.
Can water pills cause lightheadedness?
Ensure to consume sufficient water during the duration of use and even after. Due to the removal of excess sodium and water, water pills may cause a mineral imbalance in the body. This can lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar levels. The side effects include, but are not limited to, the following:
Increased Urination
According to the Mayo Clinic, water pills may increase the frequency of urination due to the increased amount of salt in the urine.
Muscle Cramps
Water pills such as thiazide diuretic that reduce the amount of potassium in the blood may result in muscle cramps, especially in the calf of the leg.
Blood Sugar
Increased blood sugar may be a result of water pills as the amount of sugar in the blood gets concentrated from the loss of water.
Dizziness
If taken by people with normal blood pressure levels, water pills may cause blood pressure to drop and result in dizziness or fainting.
Stomach Pain
Water pills may cause digestive side effects such as gas, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting.
Rash
People taking water pills may experience an allergic reaction to one of the active ingredients such as sulfonylureas, which may result in a skin rash.
Warning
Side effects including jaundice, dark urine, light stools, fever, muscle weakness or inability to urinate may indicate a serious medical condition and require urgent medical treatment.
Why do people take water pills?
The main use of water pills is controlling high blood pressure. By decreasing the amount of fluid in the body, diuretics help the heart beat easier, requiring less pressure to pump blood around the body. According to Medline Plus, another use for diuretics is in the treatment of congestive heart failure. In this condition, the heart is unable ...
How to treat dehydration from diuretics?
Treatment. The initial treatment of dehydration due to diuretic use starts by decreasing the dosage of the diuretic or discontinuing altogether. Intravenous fluids may be necessary to hydrate the person in a rapid fashion, especially if they are experiencing symptoms of organ damage or changes in mental status.
Why do diuretics help with dehydration?
Diuretics help excrete the extra fluid, facilitating the heart’s work. Excess use of diuretics can cause too much fluid to leave the body in the urine, which can result in dehydration. The main use of water pills is controlling high blood pressure. Diuretics help excrete the extra fluid, facilitating the heart’s work.
What are the consequences of using a diuretic?
One of the consequences of diuretic use is dehydration.
Can water pills cause low blood pressure?
Learn More. Apart from dehydration, use of water pills can lead to dizziness, headaches, low sodium, muscle cramps and increase thirst . Diuretics can also cause menstrual irregularities, increased blood sugar in people with diabetes, rashes and impotence in men.
Does water pills cause dehydration?
Symptoms. Furosemide & Potassium. Learn More. The symptoms of dehydration due to water pills include decreasing amounts of urine despite the diuretic effect, increased thirst and dry lips and mucous membranes. According to the Merck Manual, as the dehydration worsens, the skin becomes dry, sweating decreases and the person can experience dizziness, ...
Can diuretics cause coughing?
According to Medline Plus, another use for diuretics is in the treatment of congestive heart failure. In this condition, the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, resulting in pooling of fluid in the lungs and the tissues. This can cause difficulty breathing and cough.
How long after taking a syringe can you pee?
Side Effects. The water that comes out of your body has to go somewhere, so you can expect to be peeing more and more often for several hours after a dose. You also run the risk of getting dehydrated, and simply drinking more fluids may not be enough. Call your doctor if you're very thirsty or have a very dry mouth, your pee is a deep yellow, ...
What is the best medicine for high blood pressure?
Diuretics (Water Pills) for High Blood Pressure. Medically Reviewed by James Beckerman, MD, FACC on May 07, 2021. Commonly known as " water pills ," these drugs help your kidneys get rid of extra water and salt from your body through your pee. Because you have less total fluid in your blood vessels, like a garden hose that's not turned on all ...
Can you take diuretic in the morning?
If you only need one dose a day, you might want to take your diuretic in the morning so you can sleep through the night instead of getting up to go to the bathroom. Avoid alcohol and medicines to help you sleep. They may make side effects worse.
How to relieve headaches from diuretics?
Doctors suggest individuals try resting in a dark, quiet room as one of the first steps of home treatment. Patients might also want to try taking a hot shower or applying moist heat from a warm compress to the forehead or the back of the ne ck. Some individuals find relief with cold packs too. Taking over-the-counter medications may help, but patients on diuretics should speak to their doctor before using these. Relaxation exercises such as deep breathing are often effective, and performing guided meditation may be useful as well. If a headache lasts more than twenty-four hours, does not improve with rest, or is accompanied by nausea, weakness, or blurry vision, patients should seek urgent medical attention.
How to treat dizziness from diuretics?
To treat dizziness at home, doctors recommend individuals try to sit or lie down until their dizziness has passed, and drinking water or a cold drink can help. Patients should try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, and they should ensure they get a sufficient amount of sleep each night. If dizziness occurs regularly, doctors may be able to switch the patient to a different medication. Tests such as eye movement testing, head movement testing, and posturography might be performed if the physician suspects there could be an underlying cause for the patient's dizziness. Individuals who have dizziness together with a severe headache, shortness of breath, or chest pain should go to an emergency room for evaluation.
What is a diuretic pill?
Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, are prescription medications that remove excess salt and water from the body by increasing urinary output. Diuretics are typically used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and glaucoma. Before prescribing a diuretic, doctors will ask the patient about their medical history. Diuretics may need to be prescribed with caution in patients who have conditions such as lupus, diabetes, gout, pancreatitis, or kidney disease. Due to the risk of possible drug interactions, patients should let their doctor know if they are taking lithium, digoxin, cyclosporine, antidepressants, or medications to treat high blood pressure. Many patients take diuretics on a long-term basis, and the medicine is generally well tolerated.
What are the side effects of potassium diuretics?
Patients with reduced potassium could experience fatigue, constipation, muscle cramps, and weakness. Potassium is involved in heart function, and inadequate levels could result in an irregular heartbeat that requires urgent treatment. Patients taking diuretics may need routine blood tests to monitor their potassium. Depending on the results, doctors might recommend the use of a potassium supplement. Individuals at an increased risk of low potassium might be prescribed a special type of diuretic known as a potassium-sparing diuretic. Unlike other diuretics, this type could result in an excess amount of potassium in the blood. Patients may experience vomiting, nausea, palpitations, chest pain, tingling, and breathing difficulties. To prevent life-threatening heart problems, urgent treatment is required to normalize potassium levels. Patients who use potassium-sparing diuretics may need to make dietary changes to reduce their potassium intake. This could involve reducing their consumption of bananas, potatoes, nuts, and seeds. Treatment recommendations will be adjusted according to the results of regular blood tests.
What are the side effects of taking diuretics?
Using diuretics for weight loss purposes will almost always lead to side effects, which the 10 most common are listed as follows: 1. Dizziness and inability to concentrate. These common side effects can occur whether you follow the dosing instructions or not.
How do diuretics help you lose weight?
Diuretics or water pills as they are more commonly known in the public, give users a temporary loss in weight by eliminating excess water stores. Diuretics side effects can come fast and unexpectedly, but there are also some side effects that are difficult to identify. Any diuretic weight loss that you experience will only last for ...
Can thiazide cause dehydration?
Taking thiazide diuretics may cause your body to become depleted of fluids. Besides dark colored urine, sign s of dehydration include weakness and body pains. 3. Reduced appetite. Certain diuretics side effects also include nausea and lowered appetite. You may not want to eat as often, but you will probably be quite thirsty.
Can you lose weight with diuretics?
Any diuretic weight loss that you experience will only last for as long as you remain on the medication. Water pills are almost exclusively prescribed to edema patients, and others that are suffering from water retention. Using diuretics for weight loss purposes will almost always lead to side effects, which the 10 most common are listed as follows:
Can potassium sparing diuretics cause itchy skin?
Having itchy, swollen patches of skin on any part of your body can occur while on diuretics. It is safe to take anti-histamines while on potassium sparing diuretics. 7. Weak muscles. Other diuretics side effects have more to do with your ability to function properly.
Can taking water pills cause nausea?
Nausea and stomach pains. The diuretic pills that you consume will cause your digestive system to react strongly, at least for the first few days. You may feel nauseous whether you take loop diuretics or another type of water pill. Vomiting may also be a side effect. 6.
What medications cause rebound headaches?
The trouble can happen with both over-the-counter and prescription pain medicines. Some examples of drugs that can cause rebound headaches are: 1 Aspirin 2 Acetaminophen 3 Sleeping pills 4 Ibuprofen 5 Naproxen 6 Codeine and prescription pain relievers 7 Medicines that contain caffeine 8 Migraine drugs called triptans
How long does it take for a migraine to go away after taking a med?
You can get a mild to moderate headache soon after you take the medicine, or you might get an intense migraine about 3 to 6 hours later. You may also have nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. Your headaches may go away as your body gets used to the medicine.
What is the best medicine for rebound headaches?
Acetaminophen. Sleeping pills. Ibuprofen. Naproxen. Codeine and prescription pain relievers. Medicines that contain caffeine. Migraine drugs called triptans. The best way to treat rebound headaches is to not take the medicine anymore. Work with your doctor to come off of the medication that may be causing them.
What is rebound headache?
It's called a rebound headache. It happens when you use pain relief drugs several times a week. As your medication wears off, you get a headache again, which leads you to take even more medicine. Eventually, you find yourself getting headaches more and more, and often with greater pain.
How to get rid of inactive pill days?
Use a type of birth control pill that has lower levels of estrogen. Switch to an IUD (intrauterine device) for birth control. Take over-the-counter or prescription headache medicine during the inactive pill days.
What happens if you stop taking a med?
Keep in mind that when you stop the medicine, you may get withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sleep problems, diarrhea, or worse headaches.
Can you take triptans with migraines?
If you take nitrates and start getting a headache, continue to take your medicine and talk to your doctor. Don't try to treat yourself. Certain medicines that are used to treat migraines, such as triptans, may be unsafe to take when you have a heart condition.
What is the name of the drug that causes headaches?
Opiates. Painkillers derived from opium or from synthetic opium compounds include combinations of codeine and ac etaminophen (Tylenol with Codeine No. 3 and No. 4, others). These medications have a high risk of causing medication overuse headaches.
How to prevent headaches?
Taking care of yourself can help prevent most headaches. Avoid headache triggers. If you're not sure what triggers your headaches, keep a headache diary with details about every headache. Eventually, you may see a pattern. Get enough sleep. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — even on weekends.
How often do headaches occur?
Medication overuse headaches tend to: Occur every day or nearly every day, often waking you in the early morning.
Can medication cause headaches?
Medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches are caused by regular, long-term use of medication to treat headaches, such as migraines. Pain relievers offer relief for occasional headaches. But if you take them more than a couple of days a week, they may trigger medication overuse headaches.
Can you take butalbital for headaches?
Butalbital-containing compounds have an especially high risk of causing medication overuse headaches, so it's best not to take them to treat headaches. Migraine medications.
Is it bad to have a headache?
Occasional headaches are common. But it's important to take your headaches seriously. Some types of headaches can be life-threatening. Accompanies a fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking.
Can pain relievers cause rebound headaches?
If you have a headache disorder, any medication you take for pain relief can cause rebound headaches. Pain relievers taken regularly for another condition, such as arthritis, haven't been shown to cause medication overuse headaches in people who never had a headache disorder. Medication overuse headaches usually stop when you stop taking pain ...
How to prevent headaches with birth control?
How to Prevent Headaches. Taking your birth control pill at the same time every day may help reduce side effects. This is because your hormone levels remain steady. If you take a pill early one morning and then take one again in the afternoon the next day, it creates a gap between doses.
How many pills are in a birth control pack?
Combination birth control pill packs usually come in packs of 21 or 28 pills. Each pack has 21 active pills containing hormones. With a 21-pill pack, you take the birth control pill every day, once per day, for three weeks. On the fourth week of the month, you take no pills. Menstrual bleeding will occur during this one-week break.
How many birth control pills are in a one week break?
Menstrual bleeding will occur during this one-week break. Birth control packs containing 28 pills follow a similar pattern. Instead of taking a one-week break every month, you take one week of inactive or reminder pills which are placebos. The inactive pills don’t contain any hormones.
Can birth control pills reduce estrogen?
This may be possible by: switching to a low- or lower-dose birth control pill, which contains less estrogen and minimizes the drop in hormones on break or placebo days.
Do inactive birth control pills contain hormones?
The inactive pills don’t contain any hormones. These pills are meant to make it easier for you to remember to take your birth control pill by maintaining the daily habit. Combination birth control pills also come in a continuous dose option.
Can birth control cause headaches?
Both combination birth control pills and progestin-only pills may cause headaches as a side effect. Additional side effects of birth control pills may include: Birth control pills may also trigger symptoms in people with asthma.
Do birth control pills contain progestin?
As their name suggests, these pills only contain the hormone progestin. They’re also called minipills. Minipills contain less progestin than combination birth control pills. The hormone focuses on altering your body’s cervical mucus and uterine lining to prevent pregnancy. Because these don’t contain estrogen, progestin-only pills only sometimes prevent ovulation.