BENZTHIAZIDE Uses, Side Effects, and More

 BENZTHIAZIDE

BRAND NAME:-  Aquatag, Dihydrex, Diucen, Edemax, Exna, Foven.

BENZTHIAZIDE is a diuretic medicine, used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure and edema (swelling). It should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Frequent monitoring of blood pressure and electrolytes level is necessary while taking this medicine. 

PHARMACODYNAMIC:- 

BENZTHIAZIDE promotes water loss from the body (diuretics). They inhibit Na+/Cl- reabsorption from the distal convoluted tubules in the kidneys. Thiazides also cause loss of potassium and an increase in serum uric acid. Thiazides are often used to treat hypertension, but their hypotensive effects are not necessarily due to their diuretic activity. Thiazides have been shown to prevent hypertension-related morbidity and mortality although the mechanism is not fully understood. Thiazides cause vasodilation by activating calcium-activated potassium channels (large conductance) in vascular smooth muscles and inhibiting various carbonic anhydrases in vascular tissue. 

MECHANISM OF ACTION:-

As a diuretic, benzthiazide inhibits active chloride reabsorption at the early distal tubule via the Na-Cl cotransporter, resulting in an increase in the excretion of sodium, chloride, and water. Thiazides like benzthiazide also inhibit sodium ion transport across the renal tubular epithelium through binding to the thiazide sensitive sodium-chloride transporter. This results in an increase in potassium excretion via the sodium-potassium exchange mechanism. The antihypertensive mechanism of benzthiazide is less well understood although it may be mediated through its action on carbonic anhydrases in the smooth muscle or through its action on the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channel, also found in the smooth muscle. 

 USED:- 

Used to treat hypertension and edema.

SIDE EFFECTS:- 

Common gastrointestinal problems include gastric irritation, vomiting, cramping, nausea, anorexia, diarrhea, and constipation. Thiazide diuretics have been associated with acute cholecystitis, intrahepatic cholestasis with jaundice and rare cases of pancreatitis. 

DOSE :-  DIRECTION BY PHYSICIAN.