Water pills or diuretics are medications that increase the elimination the urine out of the organism and lowering the amount of fluids in the tissues and serous sac. Diuretics are mainly used in the diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidney that are manifested in edemas. Diuretics are divided into renal(that act directly on the kidney) and  extrarenal(that exert diuretic action indirectly through other systems of the organism.   The action mechanism of renal water pills is associated with blocking the enzymes of the kidney and inhibiting the reabsorbtion of sodium, chloride and potassium in the terminal ductules. Renal diuretics include:

• carbonic anhydrase inhibitors(diacarb)
• lood diuretics: furosemide, benzothiadiazines derivates(hydrochlorothiazide), ethacrinic acid.

These medicines increase the elimination of sodium, exert blood pressure lowering effects.

Extrarenal diuretics are devided into several groups according to action mechanism:

 

• Osmotic diuretics: potasium acetas, mannitol, urea that are excreted with kidney and entrain water.
• Potassium sparing diuretics(Spironolactone). Spironolactone is one of the most widespread diuretic.

Action mechanism of the medications is associated with the blocking of the receptors of aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormonal that increases the reabsorbtion of sodium. By blocking these ferments, Spironolactone helps to increase the removal of fluids by the kidney.