Hydrochlorothiazide

Class Thiazide
Chemistry

Benzothiadiazine

Routes of administration

Oral only

Absorption

Oral bioavailability 65-75%

Solubility

pKa 9.09; practically insoluble in water

Distribution

VOD= 1.5-4.2L/kg; 40-68% protein bound

Metabolism

Does not undergo any hepatic metabolism

Elimination

Virtually all of the dose is eliminated renally; half life is 6-9 hours

Time course of action

With oral dosing, peak effect is seen within 1-2 hours; mortality-reducing antihypertensive effects develop over months and years

Target receptor

NCC sodium/chloride cotransporter in the distal convouted tubule

Mechanism of action

By decreasing the reabsoprtion of sodium and chloride in the distal convoluted tubule, thiazides block the reabsorption of up to 5% of the total filtered sodium. This increases the delivery of sodium and chloride to the distal nephron. The increased solutes in the collecting duct lumen decrease the osmotic gradient between the duct and inner medulla, preventing water reabsorption in the collecting duct, resulting in diuresis.

Clinical effects

Hypokalemia, hyponatremia, unexplained vasodilatory antihypertensive effects in the long term

Literature reference

FDA PI data sheet

CICM details of understanding Not specifically listed in the CICM syllabus
Mentioned around Deranged Physiology
Related SAQs

Question 17 from the second paper of 2022