Chlorthalidone – an underappreciated drug which may be one of the best diuretics in the management of hypertension Review article

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Zbigniew Gaciong
Piotr Jędrusik

Abstract

Thiazide-like diuretics are recommended as first-line drugs in guidelines on the management of hypertension. Chlorthalidone, a thiazide-like diuretic, is an old drug with proven blood-pressure lowering efficacy and a beneficial effect on target organ damage and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension. Chlorthalidone is also used for other indications, including heart failure, ascites due to cirrhosis, and edema due to other causes, such as renal disease. In the current therapy of hypertension, however, chlorthalidone is used much less frequently than hydrochlorothazide or indapamide, and even less frequently than loop diuretics. This review summarizes data indicating that in comparison to hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone is a longer-acting, more potent and more effective blood-pressure lowering drug, is safe and well tolerated in currently used small doses, and it may also have a more beneficial effect on cardiovascular events. Thus, chlorthalidone may still be one of the best diuretics in the treatment of hypertension, and its low use in current clinical practice suggests that physicians should be reminded about the benefits of this underappreciated drug.

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Gaciong , Z., & Jędrusik , P. (2014). Chlorthalidone – an underappreciated drug which may be one of the best diuretics in the management of hypertension. Medycyna Faktow (J EBM), 7(3(24), 44-53. Retrieved from https://journalsmededu.pl/index.php/jebm/article/view/2353
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