Nurse's Guide: How Do Diuretics (Water Pills) Work to Lower My Blood Pressure?

Most of us call diuretics “water pills.” In two words, it explains the results of taking them! 

Think of your kidneys as the “filters” that remove toxins and excess fluid from your blood. The blood goes into the kidney, gets filtered, and then the excess fluid goes out of your body when you pee. 

Diuretics pack a big punch when taken to lower blood pressure. They are the most common type of blood pressure medication and one of the least expensive.

Let’s discuss how they work.

Reduce Fluid

Water pills work primarily in the kidneys. They remove fluid and salt that are not needed, which produces pee (urine). Urine ends up in our bladders. Our bladders get full, and we need to get rid of the fluid by peeing. 

Lower Blood Volume

What happens to our blood volume when the diuretics flush the extra fluid out of our bodies? Our blood volume decreases, lowering our blood pressure. 

The heart does not have to pump as hard when it does not have to move as much fluid. The easier the blood flows, the easier it is for the arteries and veins to carry blood in them. 

Diuretic Medication 

 Three types of prescription diuretics are available: thiazides, loop, and those that keep potassium from leaking out of the blood (potassium-sparing). They all work in different areas of your kidneys in special ways with the same results. 

Some diuretics have more than one medication in them. These are called combination diuretics.

Side Effects When Taking Diuretics (Water Pills)

Diuretics are a safe medication for most. Doctors tend to order this type of medication first when they initially diagnose a person with high blood pressure.

The most common side effect is you pee more and in larger amounts.

Other Possible Side Effects

• Muscle cramps

• Lack of water in your tissues

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Gout (pain is most commonly in the big toe)

• Trouble getting excited about sex

Key Points to Remember

• Diuretic medications are safe and usually the first line of treatment for high blood pressure.

• Reducing fluid trapped in the body’s tissues is the way diuretics work. The kidneys are the organ where this takes place.

• Side effects are usually minimal and not hard to cope with.

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