Abstract

AN UPDATED REVIEW ON THE PHARMACOLOGY OF DIURETIC AGENTS AND RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN DIURETIC THERAPY

Sikander Ali Sheikh*, Sanju, Himanshu Soni, Kashi Ram, Bhinarthak Singh, Naveen Bishnoi

ABSTRACT

Diuretics constitute an essential class of pharmacological agents widely employed in modern therapeutics for the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure, edema, renal disorders, and various electrolyte imbalance conditions. Their primary mechanism involves increasing urinary excretion of sodium, chloride, and water through specific actions on different segments of the nephron. The present research paper reviews the classification, pharmacological mechanisms, therapeutic applications, adverse effects, and recent advancements associated with diuretic therapy in modern pharmacy. This paper discusses major classes of diuretics, including loop, thiazide, potassium-sparing, osmotic, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, with an emphasis on their sites and mechanisms of action. The study further evaluates the clinical significance of diuretics in cardiovascular and renal diseases, highlighting their role in reducing morbidity andimproving patient outcomes. Despite their extensive therapeutic utility, inappropriate or prolonged use of diuretics may lead to complications such as electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, metabolic abnormalities, and renal dysfunction. Recent pharmaceutical research has focused on developing novel diuretic agents, combination therapies, and targeted delivery systems to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. In addition, there has been increasing interest in herbal and natural diuretics as potential alternatives with improved safety profiles. Advances in personalized medicine and nanotechnology are also contributing to the future development of more precise and effective diuretic therapies.

Keywords: Diuretics, Herbal Diuretics, Renal Disorder, Hypertension.