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Indications

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Indications for prescribing diuretics include:

  • acute left ventricular failure - parenteral route
  • chronic heart failure - reduce symptoms but not mortality
  • hypertension
  • hepatic oedema and ascites - spironolactone preferred because of problems of secondary hyperaldosteronism
  • nephrotic syndrome

They DO NOT include:

  • right heart failure - may cause a dangerous drop in filling pressure and hypotension
  • gravitational oedema
  • obesity
  • venous stasis
  • lymphoedema

Diuretics are grossly over-prescribed both in individual dosage and number of patients treated.

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