Any drug that increases the flow of urine from the body.
Diuretics promote removal of excess water, salts, poisons, and metabolic wastes to help relieve edema , kidney failure , or glaucoma . Most types act by decreasing the amount of fluid that is reabsorbed by the kidney's nephron s and passed back into the blood. Diuretics that allow the body to retain potassium are used for patients with hypertension or congestive heart failure .