HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

Course overview

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE (HCTZ) IS A THIAZIDE-TYPE DIURETIC WHICH HAS BEEN USED CLINICALLY FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. THE DRUG HAS BEEN WIDELY USED TO TREAT HYPERTENSION GLOBALLY AND IS RELATIVELY VERY SAFE. HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE ACTS ON THE DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULES AND INHIBITS THE SODIUM CHLORIDE CO-TRANSPORTER SYSTEM. THIS ACTION LEADS TO A DIURETIC ACTION WHICH LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE, BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOSS OF POTASSIUM IN THE URINE. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE INDICATIONS, MECHANISM OF ACTION, DOSING, IMPORTANT ADVERSE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, MONITORING, AND TOXICITY OF HCTZ AND INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE OF PRACTITIONERS REGARDING HOW TO APPROACH THIS MEDICATION AND USE AND MONITOR IT EFFECTIVELY TO DRIVE BETTER PATIENT OUTCOMES.