A diuretic is a substance that causes the kidney to make more urine. There are many different kinds of diuretics. They can be common things such as alcohol, coffee, and tea or prescription medicines that are usually more powerful.
All diuretics work directly or indirectly on the kidney cells.
The diuretics prescribed by your doctor act in varying ways on the kidney cells to increase the amount of sodium and water that are excreted. There are many diuretics available, and your doctor chooses the one which will work best for you. Diuretics are most often used when there is a buildup of excess water in the body. This happens when a diseased heart cannot pump normally and water collects in body tissues. This condition is called congestive heart failure.