Patient was educated on potassium-sparing diuretics and mechanism of action as follows:
- Potassium-sparing diuretics are diuretics that act on the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct, a part of the renal tubule, involved in the reabsorption of water and solutes from the urine.
- Some potassium-sparing diuretics (Amiloride and Triamterene) inhibit the reabsorption of water and sodium and chloride from the urine, which results in increased excretion and loss of water and these salts in the urine. They also decrease excretion of potassium and result in increase in the blood levels of potassium.
- Action of Aldosterone on the collecting duct results in absorption of sodium and water from the collecting duct of the kidney and excretion of potassium in the urine. Some potassium-sparing diuretics (Spironolactone and Eplerenone) result in inhibition of the receptor of Aldosterone and thereby, inhibit the action of Aldosterone on the collecting duct. This also results in retention of potassium and excretion of sodium and water.
- Since these diuretics prevent excretion of potassium from the body, they are called potassium-sparing diuretics.
- By inhibiting reabsorption of water and sodium in the kidney and promoting their loss in the urine, potassium-sparing diuretics help with situations of fluid overload in the body, such as, compromise in cardiac, renal and liver functions, resulting in fluid backup and edema.
- Reduced fluid volume in the body can help reduce the blood pressure.
- By reducing fluid overload in the body and the blood pressure, potassium-sparing diuretics can also help with reducing the workload on the heart. Reducing the workload on the heart can contribute towards improving the efficiency of cardiac function in individuals with heart failure.
- By reducing fluid overload in the body and the blood pressure, potassium-sparing diuretics can also help with reducing risk for stroke and progression of renal failure.
