Salt cravings on diuretics - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

rigel434 · 01-04-2006, 09:41 AM

I take 25 mg of Chlorthalidone daily which I order from a pharmacy online. (Take THAT annoying Doctor who makes me beg like a dog for prescription refills). I selected this drug and dosage because it was shown to be effective and safe in the ALLHAT study. It has a benefit over HCTZ in that it lasts for 24 hours instead of 12.

Anyway, I've noticed that later in the day I will get very strong salt cravings- not just for food, but salty food. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why this is happening- the diuretic expels salt and my body says "give me more of it." I always give in to the cravings with something like a bowl of soup, which is loaded with salt.

I realize that it may well be counterproductive to be putting stuff back into my body that the drug is taking out, but it's not a craving I can easily withstand. Plus, I exercise a lot and have found that if my body is low on salt I can't exercise effectively. Studies have shown this to be the case. Anyone else have these cravings on diuretics?

Lenin · 01-05-2006, 06:15 AM

rigel,

You picked the STRONGEST.
Ive taken diuretics for nearly thirty years, first HCTZ then Lasix. I tried ONE of my mother's chlorthalidone many years ago and it hit me like a Mack truck. I peed and peed and peed (not a problem)...I must have driven my sodium into a NEGATIVE concentration. BUT it really scared me becasue I got very week and woozy...from ONE PILL! I never tried a second one.

I recommend you have your blood minerals, at least sodium and potassium, checked very soon. If you want to keep taking the med tol then PLEASE give in to the salt craving. Your body is probably trying to correct a low sodium condition.

One of the reasons that I just switched to a loop diuretic like Lasix is that the thiazide (of which chlorthalidone is one) caused me perpetual low sodium readings with every blood test....potassium was low normal. Doctor told me several times that if my sodium dropped this low suddenly insltead of chronically, it would have knocked me "on my ***."
I never got symptoms from the thiazide...but I sure LOVE salt!
Loop diuretics are supposed to be less likely to cause the low sodium condition (which can be a killer.)

rigel,
I fully understand your reasons for wanting to go 'round the doctor...I wish I had my own prescription pad MANY a time. But for your next order, make it 50 mg. hydrochlorothiazide instead...MUCH gentler. And NEVER restrict your salt when on a diuretic (Isn't THAT a nice thought?)

If, on the other hand, your ONLY untoward side efffect is a craving for salt, then maybe the chlorthalidone is okay for you ...just eat salt when you want it . But don't make this assumption without getting serum sodium reading first.

rigel434 · 01-05-2006, 12:46 PM

Thanks, Lenin- I think I do have a mild reaction both to the diuretic and the ACE inhibitor. Which is to say basically no reaction besides frequent urination and salt cravings. But both of those reactions are easily dealt with.

As stated, I chose 25 mg chlorthalidone because it was proven in ALLHAT to be well tolerated by most people with only modest increases in blood glucose and lipids. Plus, taking a pill with 24 hour protection just makes sense to me over HCTZ's 12-hour protection- I want to have low bp all day long.

Lenin · 01-06-2006, 06:35 AM

Either chlorthalidone or HCTZ protect all day long in that they cause a water release.

Once the blood volume is reduced your BP will stay lower until you "fill up again."
You can really take either and get all day converage. In fact, I can get good control taking the HCTZ every second day. I went off MOSTLY becasue I've just been on it too long.

But if your only smptom is salt craving with chlorthanlidone, then it's easy enough to get more salt. But you really SHOULD test to see lest your Na+ concentration is dropping too low. Remember to test when you see your doctor whenever.

devie41 · 01-12-2006, 05:45 PM

Hi, Are ordering your bp meds from a pharmacy online safe?? I use to pay $20.00 a month for norvasc 2 years ago and now pay $55.00 a month. Crazy ha....I was told to take a duretic and while reading your post about the salt cravings and how duretics take away the salt from your body, I Should switch my bp meds. from norvasc to duretics. Is taking the duretics just as safe as taking norvasc. I would like to crave salt...I love salt...salt raises my bp alot. Have a great day.................................. :-)