Abstract

MARIA AGUSTINA, Astolfo et al. Diuretic misuse: Some not so well known characteristics . Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2019, vol.27, n.1, pp.05-12. ISSN 1851-3743.

Among the situations associated with diuretics misuse are the attempts to lose weight fast, frequently observed in eating disorders, and the attempts to mask the consumption of other substances, in the case of sports competitions. The use of these drugs with no medical indication or supervision generates an electrolyte imbalance, leading to hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia, hyperkalemia, among other alterations. The objective of this work was to investigate the characteristics of diuretics misuse from the CENATOXA database, where the qualitative investigation of diuretics in urine is per­formed. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on the cases admitted to the CENATOXA with a request for qualitative diuretic investigation, between 2002 and 2016. During this period, 138 urine samples were received at the CENATOXA and 56% were positive for at least one diuretic. Of all cases with positive results, 93.5% were women between 25 and 55 years of age, and intentional etiology predominated. The most detected diuretics were hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide. The diuretic misuse pattern detected up to 2008 (hydrochlorothiazide = 68% of positive cases) differed from that detected between 2009 and 2016 (furosemide + hydrochlorothiazide = 60% of positive cases). Recurrence in misuse was observed in 8% of the cases. The simul­taneous misuse of more than one diuretic and the recurrence are factors that can contribute to the onset of toxicity. These results suggest that diuretic misuse is a situation that should be observed more closely to better assess its consequences and its risks.

Keywords : Diuretics; Misuse; Furosemide; Hydrochlortiazide.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )