Here’s Why Diuretics - or ‘Water Pills’ – Should Not Be Taken for Weight Loss Without Medical Consultation

Diuretics, also called “water pills,” help the body get rid of excess salt and water. They cause the kidneys to make more urine and help control blood pressure. They are often used with other medications.

While diuretics are used to treat many health conditions, they are also popular among those with weight-loss goals. Urinating more may briefly reduce the number on the scale slightly, but losing water weight isn’t a sustainable weight-loss practice.

No one should be taking diuretics without consulting their doctor. Many people are prescribed diuretics to help them get rid of extra water and sodium to reduce their heart’s workload.

“Diuretics are a family of medicines that work at the kidney level to move sodium, fluid, and other electrolytes out of the body,” explains Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., chief medical executive of Population Health, Value and Primary Care for Baptist Health, and deputy director of Clinical Cardiology at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., Chief Population Health Officer for Baptist Health and chief of cardiology at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

Diuretics may be key part of treatment for hypertension, heart failure, and some endocrine conditions, he adds. Diuretics are actually one of the most prescribed types of medications, mainly because the conditions they treat are so common.

Doctors normally don’t recommend taking over-the-counter diuretics. Dr. Fialkow says the products usually have a weak diuretic effect. Some contain caffeine and could cause heart palpitations, while only having a minimal or transient effect on bloating or water weight, he said..

“If one uses a diuretic to decrease bloating, understand what it may do to your body, how it may interact with other foods and medications,” said Dr. Fialkow. “But, generally, what is labeled as ‘diuretic’ over the counter is very mild compared to the medications we use for medical conditions.”

Over-the-counter diuretics could also increase your risk for dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. New research released earlier this year found that “almost 1 in 10 adolescents have used ineffective and potentially harmful non-prescribed weight-loss products in their lifetime, suggesting that interventions are required to reduce use of weight-loss products in this population.”

Among the weight-loss products cited in the study were diuretics. The findings, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, were based on a review of more than 90 previous studies with 600,000 participants around the world.

For the most part, diuretics are safe and well-tolerated when they’re prescribed and managed by your physician, Dr. Fialkow said.

But depending on the specific diuretic, some people might experience side effects such as light-headedness, dehydration, dry mouth, or low potassium levels. Other side effects may include increased urination, electrolyte imbalance (too much or not enough of certain minerals in your body), low blood pressure, and headaches are other potential side effects.