The foods you should avoid when taking diuretics are high sodium foods such as processed foods, canned foods, frozen foods, deli meats, condiments, cheese, sauces and dressings.
You should also avoid salt substitutes, alcohol, caffeine, natural licorice and grapefruit or grapefruit juice when taking diuretics.
The most serious side effect of diuretics are electrolyte imbalances such as low potassium levels "hypokalemia" and low sodium levels "hyponatremia" which can be life threatening and cause irregular heartbeats and other serious health issues.
Diuretics including thiazide diuretics can cause your body to excrete excess potassium and lead to dangerously low levels of potassium and can also cause irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness and even cardiac arrest.
Diuretics including thiazides can also cause sodium loss, leading to hyponatremia, which can cause seizures, coma and confusion.
In rare cases taking diuretics can cause kidney failure or kidney damage and allergic reactions such as skin rashes and severe anaphylaxis.
The safest diuretic to take is Thiazide diuretics such as chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazine, especially for older adults.
If you have kidney problems, loop diuretics such as torsemide and furosemide are the safest diuretics to take.
If you have low potassium levels the safest diuretics are potassium sparing diuretics such as amiloride or spironolactone.
And if you have heart failure the safest diuretics to take are SGLT2 inhibitor diuretics such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin which are effective in treating heart failure.
Some natural diuretics which are also the safest are dandelion, ginger and parsley although their effectiveness can vary.
And some over the counter diuretics also known as water pills are also available and are often safe but should be used under medical supervision and with caution.
Diuretics increase urine output by promoting the excretion of water and electrolytes, like potassium, chloride and sodium through your kidneys.
Diuretics work by inhibiting the reabsorption of water and electrolytes in the kidneys by increasing the permeability of the renal tubules to water and electrolytes, blocking the action of hormones which promote reabsorption such the hormone aldosterone and inhibiting the enzymes that are involved in the reabsorption process such as the enzymes of carbonic anhydrase.