Diuretics in Clinical Practice

Abstract

The mercurials are the most efficacious of all the useful diuretic agents and in many instances are not judiciously employed. Too much emphasis has been placed on the “potency rank” of the various thiazide diuretics; “potency” merely indicates how much drug must be used to achieve a therapeutic response. The newer thiazides are not superior to chlorothiazide for routine use in patients with edema. Spironolactone and triamterene may be valuable adjunctive agents in treatment of refractory edema.