Loop diuretics are widespread. They have a number of advantages over thiazide drugs. What and how to take find out right now? Loop diuretics are commonly used in bodybuilding. These are powerful diuretics that are superior to thiazides in terms of freeing the body from fluids and salts, but at the same time reduce blood pressure to a lesser extent. Also note that drugs in this group do not increase cholesterol levels and do not disturb its balance.
Loop diuretics in bodybuilding are used shortly before the start of the competition to quickly remove excess fluid from the body, which allows you to give the muscles additional relief. Oral medications begin to work on average one hour after ingestion and affect the body within 4–4 hours.
Also, when taking diuretics, there is a loss of body weight. This fact is the main reason for using diuretics to stabilize your weight. The most popular are oral medications. In case of emergency, injectable diuretics are also used to quickly remove fluid from the body.
The most popular diuretic is Furosemide. Most often, to achieve goals, athletes need to consume from 20 to 40 milligrams of the drug (0.5-1 tablet). If it is necessary to remove a large amount of liquid, then the procedure can be repeated after a few hours.
It should be noted, however, that Furosemide is a potent diuretic and care must be taken when using it. Improper use can lead to side effects. To prevent such a situation, you should carefully read the instructions for diuretics, as well as use a complex application.
The most popular among athletes is the combination of diuretics, for example, Furosemide or entacrynic acid, with Triamterene or Spirolactone. These drugs act on the apical membrane, which significantly reduces the risk of hypoglycemia.
I would also like to say a few words about the ban on the use of diuretics by athletes. One of the indications for the use of drugs of this class are various kinds of intoxication of the body. It should be noted that athletes are much more susceptible to endocrine intoxication in comparison with ordinary people. This is due to the strong catabolic processes occurring in the body during training. Thus, it can be argued that the ban on the use of diuretics in sports somewhat limits doctors in their ability to provide assistance to an athlete.
Now we will consider the most popular drugs among athletes.
Diuretic Uregit (Entacrynic acid)
The drug is well absorbed by the intestines and comes into contact with blood proteins almost immediately after administration. The therapeutic effect is observed within half an hour after the drug enters the body. The maximum concentration of the active substance is created after one or two hours, and Uregit works from 4 to 8 hours. If an injectable form of the drug is used, then the tool begins to work after 10 minutes.
Pharmacodynamics of Uregit
Uregit has a high diuretic activity and works at the level of the basal cells of the tubular epithelium, or rather, in the ascending part of the loop of Genele. The drug blocks the activity of enzymes involved in obtaining energy, which affects the operation of pumps. With prolonged use of the drug, it helps to reduce blood pressure.
Side effects
Since the drug helps to accelerate the excretion of potassium and magnesium from the body, then with its prolonged use, hypomagnesemia and hypokalemia may develop. The appearance of pain in the esophagus and large intestine is possible. This is the result of the irritating effect of the active substances of the drug. To prevent the above problems, before using Uregit, the agent should be diluted in isotonic sodium chloride solution.
Furosemide
The drug is well absorbed by the intestines and begins to affect the body when taken orally in 30-50 minutes. The therapeutic effect in this case will be achieved a couple of hours after ingestion and will last for 6 to 8 hours.
With intravenous use, the therapeutic effect will be achieved much faster, after 10 minutes. The drug will work in this case from 2 to 4 hours. The half-life of Furosemide is 0.5 to 1 hour.
Pharmacodynamics
The drug has a variety of effects on the cells of the renal tubule. Since the drug suppresses the activity of energy-generating substances, for example, hexokinase, there is not enough energy for the sodium pump to work and its activity is suppressed.
The drug has a depressing effect on the process of chlorine and sodium resorption, which leads to an increase in the flow of passive sodium from the intercellular space and leads to an increase in the intracellular pool of sodium-plus. Also, the drug has a stimulating effect on the blood flow in the kidneys and accelerates the excretion of phosphates, potassium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonates from the body.
The drug also increases the content of kinins and prostaglandins, which as a result leads to an increase in the overall dynamics of the kidneys and accelerates the excretion of sodium from the body. Furosemide also helps to reduce blood pressure.
Side effects
If the permissible dosage is exceeded, the volume of pulsating blood may decrease. With prolonged use of the drug, hypokalemia, hypochlorimia, and metabolic alcolosis may develop. With high excretion of uric acid, exacerbation of gout may occur, and hyperglycemia has also been observed in rare cases.
Learn more about the effects of loop and thiazide diuretics on the body in this video:
