What type of medication is a diuretic?

A diuretic is a type of medication that promotes urination. These medications work primarily by increasing the excretion of water and electrolytes from the kidneys, resulting in increased urine production. This process helps to remove excess fluid from the body, which can be particularly important in conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and certain kidney disorders where fluid retention is an issue.

While other types of medications have specific roles, they do not share the primary function of diuretics. For instance, medications that stimulate the heart would enhance cardiac output and do not necessarily influence fluid balance. Those aimed at reducing inflammation might be corticosteroids or NSAIDs, which focus on lowering inflammation levels rather than fluid elimination. Similarly, medications that prevent blood clots are antithrombotic agents, which serve a different purpose, focusing on coagulation pathways rather than the promotion of urination. Thus, the defining characteristic of a diuretic is its ability to facilitate increased urine output, distinguishing it from other medication types.