diuretic

/ˌˈdaɪjəˌˈrɛdɪk/

/daɪəˈrɛtɪk/

Other forms: diuretics

A diuretic is anything — food, drink, or medicine — that increases the flow of urine. In other words, it makes you pee.

Usually, going "number one" is no big deal, but sometimes people have trouble going. That's where diuretics come in: they make you urinate more. A common reason to take diuretics would be a problem with your kidneys. Taking a diuretic can be very important in getting excess water and also toxins out of your body. Coffee and alcohol aren't usually recommended by doctors, but they're also diuretics since they tend to make you urinate.

Definitions of diuretic

1. noun

   any substance that tends to increase the flow of urine, which causes the body to get rid of excess water
   synonyms: diuretic drug, water pill

   types:

   Hygroton, Thalidone, chlorthalidone

   a diuretic (trade names Hygroton and Thalidone) used to control hypertension and conditions that cause edema; effective in lowering blood pressure to prevent heart attacks

   Edecrin, ethacrynic acid

   diuretic (trade name Edecrin) used to treat edema

   Lasix, furosemide

   commonly used diuretic (trade name Lasix) used to treat hypertension and edema

   Lozal, indapamide

   diuretic (trade name Lozal) used in the treatment of hypertension

   Osmitrol, mannitol

   a diuretic (trade name Osmitrol) used to promote the excretion of urine

   thiazide

   any of a group of drugs commonly used as diuretics in the treatment of hypertension; they block the reabsorption of sodium in the kidneys

   Diuril, chlorothiazide

   a diuretic drug (trade name Diuril) used in the treatment of edema and hypertension

   Esidrix, HydroDIURIL, Microzide, hydrochlorothiazide

   a diuretic drug (trade name Microzide, Esidrix, and HydroDIURIL) used in the treatment of hypertension

   hydroflumethiazide

   diuretic used to treat hypertension and edema

   Naqua, trichlormethiazide

   diuretic drug (trade name Naqua) used to treat hypertension

   type of:

   drug

   a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic