Mechanism of action of diuretics

Diuretics act primarily on the kidneys, increasing urine volume, reducing blood volume and eliminating edema by promoting the excretion of potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride and other ions and water. Its basic principle is that it acts primarily on various ion channels in the renal tubules, thus affecting the excretion and reabsorption of various ions, and then achieves osmotic diuretic effects. It can be divided into the following categories: first, high-acting diuretics, also known as loop diuretics, mainly act on the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts, and can promote large amounts of urine excretion, represented by furosemide; second, intermediate-acting diuretics, mainly act on the sodium potassium dichloride channels in the proximal convoluted tubules, such as thiazines, typical of which is hydrochlorothiazine. There are also some potassium diuretics with low efficiency, mainly to promote potassium reabsorption and sodium excretion, to achieve diuretic effect, including spironolactone and triamterene.