What two minerals do you lose when you take a diuretic?

Magnesium and Potassium. You may also lose Calcium and of course Sodium.

You got the calcium right. Care for another shot Georgia85?

Hmmmph! I'm beginning to wonder about your medical trivia cards! LOL
I know potassium is a major mineral that is lost through diuresis....
think I'll have to pass this off to Sher - but would like a link that lists the mineral please!

The last one was iron I beat you to the answer!

Yafa.. that is not entirely accurate.

Different diuretcs make you lost different electrolytes based on how they work with the body.

Diuretics
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What are diuretics?

Additional information:

Diuretics are non-habit-forming medications that stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine, flushing excess fluids and minerals (e.g., sodium) from the body.

The most common diuretic medications fall into four major categories:
loop, osmotic, potassium-sparing and thiazide (or thiazide-like).

Loop diuretics decrease the kidney’s ability to absorb sodium, causing more sodium to be excreted through urine. Loop diuretics produce the greatest increase in urine flow. They may be administered through an intravenous (I.V.) line in the hospital to reduce swelling (edema) in patients with a variety of conditions (e.g., congestive heart failure). They are most commonly used as oral medications.


Thiazide (or thiazide-like) diuretics increase the excretion of both sodium and chloride into the urine. They are commonly prescribed for heart patients, either alone or in conjunction with a potassium-sparing version. They are also commonly used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).


Potassium-sparing diuretics block the exchange of sodium for potassium that naturally occurs in the body, causing the excretion of sodium with relatively little loss of potassium. Most potassium-sparing diuretics are far less potent than loop or thiazide diuretics. They are commonly used in conjunction with other forms of diuretics to protect the body from too much potassium loss. They are also frequently used in patients with liver disease and ascites (fluid build-up in the abdomen due to liver damage). In addition, they can be used to treat high blood pressure and low potassium levels.


Osmotic diuretics increase the osmotic pressure (ion concentration) in blood and blood vessels, inhibiting the reabsorption of water and dissolved substances, and causing an increase in urine flow.
Osmotic diuretics draw fluid from the cells of the brain and the eyes, and they increase the urinary excretion of toxins introduced into the body through the use of either legal or illegal substances. These are the least common form of diuretics used.
Diuretics are generally taken orally in tablet, capsule or liquid form. They can also be administered through intravenous injection. Urine flow usually increases within hours of the first dose, but diuretics may take several weeks to affect conditions such as hypertension. The increased urine flow flushes dissolved substances (solutes) from the body that include the following:

Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Chloride
Phosphorus
Uric acid

Stimulating the body to remove more of these solutes also rids the body of the water in which they are suspended.


What are some types of diuretics?

Loop
bumetanide
ethacrynate
sodium
ethacrynic acid
furosemide
torsemide


Osmotic
glycerin
isosorbide
mannitol
urea

Potassium-sparing
amiloride
hydrochloride
spironolactone
triamterene

Thiazide
(or thiazide-like)
bendoflumethiazide
benzthiazide
cholorothiazide
chlorthalidone
cyclothiazide
hydrocholorothiazide
flumethiazide
indapamide
methyclothiazide
metolazone
polythiazide
quinethazone
trichlormethiazide