[Hypertension therapy--never without diuretics?].
Diuretics are highly effective and are valuable antihypertensives in modern high blood pressure therapy. As a monotherapy, diuretics should be preferably be used in elderly patients; in a combination therapy, in any case in a triple combination therapy, they should be used regardless of the patient's age. Disadvantages include risk for developing hypokalaemia, their diabetogenicity with unclear long-term prognosis and the usually limited treatment persistence. Diuretics are no longer the lowest-priced antihypertensives. For monotherapy and dual combination therapy, effective alternatives are available. The necessity for the use of diuretics cannot be rationalized either medically or economically.
Anlauf
Manfred
M
manfred.anlauf@t-online.de
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics