Anyone use Diuretics?

[shnswms]

I have been on Uniretic for awhile now, which is a combination ace inhibitor and diuretic. I read that diuretics can cause kidney cancer. This frightens me and I want to look into another medication. Anyone have any knowledge of this?

[Lenin]

shnswms (you need another screen name)

Diuretics are hard on the kidneys because that's where they do their work, especially with year in and year out use but there's never been anything conclusive about renal cancer increase. There are some indications of a possibility of a SLIGHT increase in renal carcinoma with people taking diuretics over 15 years but you have to torture the data to find it and the small risk is dwarfed by the benefit in reducing blood pressure over the long haul. Over the last 40 years thiazides have been among the most tested of all drugs. Almost unanimously, they test as safe drugs.

For myself, a three decade user, I have judged the risk of kidney damage VERY slight and found HCTZ to be BY FAR the most powerful BP reducer I've ever tried, and I've tried LOTS.
I've lost 11 pounds this month <bowing to thunderous applause> and my BP is starting to get very low...117/72 last night, so I will soon be ready for a LONG trial with no drugs while I drop another 8 pounds. Though I like HCTZ very much I like nothing MUCH better.