question: diuretics

This is a question for those who have been on diuretics and have stopped
them, whether with or without a doctor's advice.

What did you experience when you did this? I'm looking for all
signs/symptoms. My doctor and I are weaning me from my diuretic, and I
want to know what to expect - something he wasn't going to share with me.

Thank you!

347/270/???
Since 8/5/02

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send mail).

"Nancy Howells" wrote in message
...
| This is a question for those who have been on diuretics and have stopped
| them, whether with or without a doctor's advice.
|
| What did you experience when you did this? I'm looking for all
| signs/symptoms. My doctor and I are weaning me from my diuretic, and I
| want to know what to expect - something he wasn't going to share with me.
|
| Thank you!
|
| 347/270/???
| Since 8/5/02
|
| --
| Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send
mail).

Here's a place to start:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_furosemide.html
Chris B.

I tried quitting my diuretic about a month ago, but after gaining 12 pounds
in 8 days I went back to using them. So far I have relost 10 pounds; the
weight didn't go back off like I was hoping it would. I think that after I
get closer to my goal I will try tapering off, maybe a pill every other day,
or half a pill a day and see how that works out.

Julia
250/180/150

"Nancy Howells" wrote in message
...
This is a question for those who have been on diuretics and have stopped
them, whether with or without a doctor's advice.

What did you experience when you did this? I'm looking for all
signs/symptoms. My doctor and I are weaning me from my diuretic, and I
want to know what to expect - something he wasn't going to share with me.

Thank you!

347/270/???
Since 8/5/02

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send
mail).

Nancy,

Years ago I was on hydrocholorothiazide for many months after having a very
bad blood pressure reaction to a birth control pill. I went off it when my
blood pressure normalized. I was low carbing at the time. Nothing bad
happened at all.

I went on it again last fall and stopped it very suddenly so that I could
switch to Diovan. Again, nothing observable happened.

It probably depends on why you were having water retention what will happen
when you stop the diuretic. At worst from what I've read elsewhere you'll
have some rebound water retention but since you are low carbing it shouldn't
be a big deal. Monitor your blood pressure if you have issues with that.

P.S. Congrats on the spectacular ongoing weight loss!

-- Jenny

168.5/137

Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work?


"Nancy Howells" wrote in message
...
This is a question for those who have been on diuretics and have stopped
them, whether with or without a doctor's advice.

What did you experience when you did this? I'm looking for all
signs/symptoms. My doctor and I are weaning me from my diuretic, and I
want to know what to expect - something he wasn't going to share with me.

Thank you!

347/270/???
Since 8/5/02

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send
mail).

Nancy Howells writes:

My doctor and I are weaning me from my diuretic, and I
want to know what to expect - something he wasn't going to share with me.

"Weaning" is the operative word here. Diuretics should never be stopped "cold
turkey" because of the effect on electrolytes and possible water retention.

As your body adjusts to the GRADUAL effects of the diuretic withdrawal, you
might retain some water at first, but your chemistry should level out
eventually. I don't think there are ANY dire consequences to "weaning" off the
meds, as opposed to total withdrawal from the drug at one time.

Fortunately you must not have a condition that requires lifelong diuretic
treatment. Is the diuretic being essentially replaced by another drug, such as
something for blood pressure?
I went from two 40 mg furosemides a day to none with no ill effects at all. I
now take one only when I experience a high degree of edema, such as after
sitting all day at the computer.


Connie
************************************************** ***
My mind is like a steel...um, whatchamacallit.

In article ,
(ConnieG999) wrote:

Nancy Howells writes:




Fortunately you must not have a condition that requires lifelong diuretic
treatment. Is the diuretic being essentially replaced by another drug,
such as
something for blood pressure?
I went from two 40 mg furosemides a day to none with no ill effects at
all. I
now take one only when I experience a high degree of edema, such as after
sitting all day at the computer.


No, it's not being replaced. I've lost enough weight that my blood
pressure is now too low, and thus the diuretic can be removed - we
think, and are going to try. It's maxide, so... We've already cut it
back by half, and I'm still dumping my bp into the toilet on a regular
basis - not as much, though. But I have had some heart palps, and was
wondering if that was why. They easily could also be anxiety - I've
pegged the stess-o-meter this week in a big way.

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send mail).

Nancy Howells wrote ...
This is a question for those who have been on diuretics and have stopped
them, whether with or without a doctor's advice.

What did you experience when you did this? I'm looking for all
signs/symptoms. My doctor and I are weaning me from my diuretic, and I
want to know what to expect - something he wasn't going to share with me.

I decided to stop taking spironolactone (for PCOS) during my first attempt
at LC because I thought it might be hindering my weight loss.

It didn't help, later that year I gave up LC in disgust (and in 9 months
gained three times as much as I'd lost while LC). During the summer my
ankles and feet swelled up painfully with fluid retention (I sit at a
computer all day).

After a few months my T zone and scalp became incredibly oily.

I restarted LC and then restarted the spiro a few months later, but have
never been able to build up to the same dosage I was on before. My T zone
and scalp is slightly less oily now after about 6 months on a lower dose,
but still much oilier than before (I have quite long hair so really don't
like having to wash it every day, close to my scalp is oily but the ends are
dry and damaged).

I'm hoping as I continue on this lower dose the oiliness will continue to
reduce.

I can't increase my dosage of spiro because every time I try, I get terrible
lower leg cramps every evening and often in bed at night - in fact probably
one night a week I don't take my second evening dose because my legs have
bad cramp as the fluid drains from my ankles and calves. I was on 100mg once
or twice a day, now I'm on 25mg once or twice a day.

I guess it depends why you were on diuretics and why you want to stop them.
I regret stopping spiro very much.

cheers
Rachel
(New Zealand)

Nancy Howells wrote ...
basis - not as much, though. But I have had some heart palps, and was
wondering if that was why. They easily could also be anxiety - I've
pegged the stess-o-meter this week in a big way.

Oooh stress will do that to ya!

In May last year my wonderful, laid-back boss quit to go overseas, and I got
a new bitchy, whining, always-right, interfering, up-herself, 50 going on
15yo boss who changes her mind constantly and can't seem to communicate
clear instructions to save her life, resulting in much frustration and
re-doing of what should be simple tasks. We are total opposites - she's a
trendy lesbian who hangs out in all the right places and wears all the right
labels, I'm a conservative hetero who wears whatever fits and detests label
clothing and hip crowds; she only likes rap & hip hop music, I detest same
and like classic & heavy rock; she's a semi-vegan, I'm a full-time
carnivore; she's lived in London for 3 years and thinks everything and
everyone who's lived or worked in London is totally cool and a world
authority on everything, I've never travelled outside New Zealand and have
no inclination to do so; she hates animals, I'm a dog nut ... and so on.

I started getting terrible heart palpitations and also IBS within weeks.

Thankfully our team of two expanded to a team of three in March and the
third person seems to have broken the tension somewhat (boss was on her best
behaviour for the first month or two, and it seems to have become a bit of a
habit).

She still annoys the hell out of me, but the heart palps have mostly gone
and the tummy troubles have reduced drastically (though I still get
flare-ups every few weeks - definitely seem to be related to how much she's
annoying me that week!).

Stress ... bah, humbug!


Rachel
(New Zealand)