Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic medicine recommended to treat hypertension and edema (fluid accumulation and retention in body tissues) caused by various medical disorders and prescription medications (e.g. corticosteroids). Congestive heart failure, diabetes insipidus, renal tubular acidosis, and kidney stones are among the other disorders for which Hydrochlorothiazide may be administered (as a prophylactic for patients with high calcium in the urine).

What is Hydrochlorothiazide?

Prescription medication hydrochlorothiazide is available as a tablet for oral use. This drug is prescribed to treat high blood pressure and edema caused by heart failure and liver damage. Hydrochlorothiazide, an antihypertensive drug, lowers blood pressure and the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. As a diuretic or “water pill,” Hydrochlorothiazide causes your body to produce more pee. To lose weight, many patients turn to this medication since it aids the body’s process of excreting excess sodium and water.

What is a Water Pill?

The medical term for water pills is specifically diuretics. Diuretics medications help your kidneys get rid of excess water and salt. Various types of diuretics treat multiple conditions that you are trying to treat. Patients with heart, kidney and specific lung problems usually use water pills. They often have edema, where water accumulates in the tissue and causes swelling and inflammation. Add the water pill, which helps water the stubborn liquid. With excess water and salt removed, the heart is easier to pump, and the whole body can start functioning properly. Water pills are mostly the first choice to treat high blood pressure.

Side Effects of Water Pills

Diuretics are generally safe, but there may be side effects. The most common is frequent urination. Others include fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, dizziness, thirst, excessive weight loss, increased blood sugar, skin rashes, and nausea. If you take water pills and experience these symptoms, meet your doctor.

• Lower than normal blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Tingling in hands, legs, & feet

More severe side effects: 

• Mouth sores 
• Severe skin reaction 
• Abnormal heart rate
• Trouble seeing
• Fever
• Skin peeling and blisters

Can I Use Water Pills with Other Drugs?

Hydrochlorothiazide works to remove extra fluids in your body. Eliminating this liquid can cause weight loss. Remember that this is the weight of water, not the loss of fat. Inform your doctor if you take another medicine or plan to use a diuretic. Certain water pills taken with certain drugs can be dangerous. Here are some drugs that can interact negatively with water pills:

• Cyclosporine

• Medicines for high blood pressure

• Antidepressants

• Lithium

• Corticosteroids

• Certain anti-inflammatory drugs

• Anticlotting drugs

• Diabetes medicine

What Pills Can Help Me Lose Weight?

The Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) The U.S. has approved four weight-loss drugs. For extended-term use:

•  Bupropion-Naltrexone (Contrave)§
•  Liraglutide (Saxenda)§
•  Orlistat (Xenical)§
•  Phentermine-TopiraMte (Qsymia)§

Hydrochlorothiazide with Weight Gain?

It is logical to hope that patients with a history of weight gain related to edema (weight gain as a result of edema) will most likely experience significant weight loss when using hydrochlorothiazide-relative to those who use Hydrochlorothiazide for other conditions (e.g., hypertension). Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) eliminates the beneficial effects of several drugs and has several adverse effects. It reduces magnesium and potassium; It increases uric acid and the risk of type-2 diabetes.

The Primary Role of Hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic drug prescribed to treat hypertension and edema (accumulation of fluids and retention in the body’s tissues) resulting from various medical conditions and prescription drugs (e.g., corticosteroids). Other medical conditions hydrochlorothiazide is sometimes prescribed to be treated for include:

• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes insipidus
• Kidney tubular acidosis
• Kidney stones (as prophylaxis for patients with high calcium in the urine)

Sodium Excretion and Water loss

As a diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide functions by disrupting sodium transportation (Na+) in a complicated distal kidney tubule. Disorders with sodium transportation (Na+) in a complex kidney tubule -distal recitations: prevent sodium reabsorption, induce sources (sodium excretion in urine), and increase water loss.

Weight Loss as a Side Effect

Apart from the hydrochlorothiazide diuretic action that can effectively reduce blood pressure (to ward off hypertension) and increase urine sodium excretion (to reduce excessive water retention), some users want to know about their side effect profiles. The side effects that many hydrochlorothiazide users want to know are weight loss – especially whether the drug causes weight loss, and if so, how much.

Initially, yes. While your body gets rid of excess fluids, you may lose weight. But when you start drinking fluids, your weight returns. With the water pill, you lose the importance of water, not fat – so it’s not a healthy type of weight loss. And because your body is very dependent on water to function, losing too much water can cause dehydration and other serious consequences. So, while water pills technically cause weight loss, you should not take them for weight loss. A better plan is to spill pounds, forget the magic medicine – and stick to the intelligent and exercise diet combo.

How much weight do you lose on HCTZ?

All data from trials where the effect of Hydrochlorothiazide on body weight is evaluated shows that the drug clinically causes significant weight loss as a side effect. Hydrochlorothiazide causes weight loss should not be shocking considering that it functions as a diuretic – forcing the body. The effective dose of Hydrochlorothiazide at 52% of these respondents is 50 mg/day, which is associated with an average weight loss of 1.58 kg. An additional 29% reached B.P. goals with the same level of weight loss, but they need double the dosage or 100 mg/day.

• Average weight loss: 1.01 lbs. up to 14.77 lbs.
•  Monotherapy: 2.31 lbs. up to 6.92 lbs.
•  Polytherapy: 1.01 lbs. up to 14.77 lbs.
•  Dosage effect: more significant weight loss was observed at a 200 mg/day dose vs 100 mg/day and 50 mg/day.

Conclusion

Hydrochlorothiazide works to remove extra fluids from your body. Eliminating this liquid can cause weight loss. Remember that this is the weight of water, not the loss of fat. It is the precise answer to the question, “does Hydrochlorothiazide make you lose weight.”You may have heard of claims about does Hydrochlorothiazide makes you lose weight. But this is something we believe you haven’t heard: Water pills are never designed to help people lose weight. So what do they make, and how safe are they? Read on to find out.