What are Diuretics?
A diuretic can refer to any substance that elevates the rate of urination. Different types of diuretics increase the excretion of water through your bodies in different ways. For example, loop diuretics enhance the loss of sodium in the urine and increase the amount of water while thiazide diuretics enhance the amount of sodium and chloride that is excreted in the urine so that more water is excreted. While diuretics can come in the form of pills, certain beverages like coffee and tea can act as diuretics.
Individuals suffering from eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating sometimes abuse diuretics in order to lose weight. Diuretic misuse actually does not facilitate weight-loss, but rather reduces the amount of water in the body. Water in the body is vital for the appropriate functioning of all physiological systems. By misusing diuretics the eating disordered individual is robbing their body of this crucial resource.
Complications from Diuretic Abuse
The misuse of diuretics can cause the following severe and dangerous complications for the eating disordered individual:
- Kidney damage
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Heart palpitations
- Fluid retention
- Potassium deficiency
Get Help for Diuretic Abuse Today
Rader Programs understands and can successfully help individuals who have misused diuretics. Our multidisciplinary treatment team has developed a withdrawal protocol that allows the individual to end the use of diuretics with the least amount of discomfort.
Let Rader Programs help you achieve lasting recovery.
For more information on Rader Program's diuretic abuse treatment and other treatment programs, call 1-800-841-1515 or request a free assessment today.