Dr David Goldfarb answers:
Diuretics are not drugs that to my mind “damage” the kidneys with time. They can be used safely for long term treatment of high blood pressure. They have some mild side effects, but thiazides, as an example, are a class of drugs that have been used safely by millions of people for high blood pressure and they are currently in the first line of recommended drugs for high blood pressure according to the authoritative Joint National Committee (JNC) VI.