Do Water Tablets Help You Lose Weight

Maybe you ate way too much on your vacation last week. Maybe you haven’t been as *ahem* regular as you normally are. Maybe it’s just that time of the month. Whatever it is, you’re swollen and puffy and it’s

There are actually three classes of diuretics that work in different ways, says Ellen Lunenfeld, M.D., an internist with Summit Medical Group in New Jersey—thiazide, loop-acting, and potassium-sparing diuretics. Each class works on a different part of the kidney's nephron where urine is made, says Lunenfeld.

Actually, it goes a little deeper than that. Here's what you need to know about water pills—and why you should definitely skip self-prescribing them.

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Take note of that word: prescribed. Water pills are meant to help reduce blood pressure, prevent fluid buildup, and reduce swelling respectively, says Linda Anegawa, M.D., an internist at Pali Momi Medical Center in Hawaii.

They're usually given to people with health issues like hypertension, heart failure, and idiopathic edema (unexplained swelling)—not people looking to cure mild bloating or lose weight. Most doctors recommend against using water pills for those purposes.

It might be tempting to pick up an OTC water pill at the drugstore if you’re experiencing mild bloating, but Lunenfeld warns against this. That's because OTC water pills and prescriptions water pills aren't the same thing.

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“The problem with OTC meds like these is that you’re not sure exactly what they’re giving you, ” she explains. “They’re not FDA controlled, so they may not be doing what they claim to and in fact might be making you dehydrated.” (With an Rx, a doctor will monitor your dosage and length of use—that doesn't happen with OTC water pills, hence the dehydration risk.)

Going a step further, OTC water pills could even be toxic and interact badly with other medicines you're taking, says Anegawa. (Again, with a prescription, a doctor will be monitoring this.) OTC water pills also haven't been studied in research trials to prove their efficacy, she adds.

Water pills aren't habit-forming or dangerous, says Anegawa—again, as long as you're getting them through your doctor. When you start taking them on your own without a recommended dosage, however, you could do some serious damage to your body.

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“[Taking them] can cause worsening kidney function, and lightheadedness or dizziness as a result of being dehydrated, ” says Lunenfeld. Other scary symptoms caused by dehydration and loss of electrolytes includes heart palpitations, weakness, confusion, and severe dizziness.

Sure, water pills help you shed excess water that's making you feel super bloated—but only temporarily. Once you stop taking them, your kidneys go back to reabsorbing the normal amount of water and salt for your body, so you'll go back to your typical body weight soon after you stop taking them.

“When you’re weighing yourself, [you’re adding up] bone, fat, muscle and water, ” says Lunenfeld. “When you’re looking to lose weight, you’re looking to lose fat and maintain muscle mass. With a diuretic, you’re just losing water weight, which isn’t really getting you any significant weight loss.”

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Yep, you read that right. If you take any type of diuretic over a long period of time, your kidneys will eventually compensate for their use and you'll end up holding on to more water weight than you did before you started taking them.

It's called diuretic-induced edema, which happens when your kidneys start retaining more sodium and water than they need and your body starts to swell, says Anegawa—kind of the opposite of what a water pill is supposed to do.

While it's not recommended for healthy women to take any kind of water pills, there is one exception: to reduce period bloating. According to Anegawa, it's fine for women to take prescription water pills to help de-puff unexplained leg swelling or bloating caused by PMS, says Anegawa.

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Again, that's prescription-only, so don't head to your nearest drugstore for diuretics. Instead, bring up the issue to your ob-gyn, who may prescribe water pills to take before your period or whenever you tend to feel super-inflated. Since your physician will be keeping an eye on your dose, you'll reduce your risk of serious side effects and have someone to call if something feels off.

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High-Protein Breakfasts That Will Keep You Full 25 Reasons You’re Just Not Losing Weight 10 Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery Services Can The Hormone Diet Help You Lose Weight?Should You Take Water Pills for Weight Loss? Water pills are used to treat a variety of conditions, but extra fat is not one of them.

You’ve probably heard claims that water pills can work wonders for weight loss. But the fact is, water pills were never designed to help people lose weight. So, what are they for?

Here are your top questions about water pills, including how to take them safely and whether they may be right for you.

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The medical term for water pills is diuretics. Essentially, diuretics help your kidneys flush excess water and salt from the body. Different types of diuretics are used to treat various medical conditions. It’s important to know that diuretics should only be taken as directed by a healthcare provider (HCP). Taking these pills without specific instructions can be dangerous.

Patients who have high blood pressure as well as certain heart, kidney, and lung problems typically take water pills.These people often have a condition called edema, in which water accumulates in the tissues and causes swelling. Enter water pills, which help the kidneys flush out these extra fluids. Relieved of the extra burden, the heart pumps more easily and the entire body can start functioning better.

Most people who don’t have a medical condition calling for fluid unloading should not take water pills. Pregnant women should use water pills only for a medical problem, not just for the swelling that's common during pregnancy.

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The most common side effect is frequent urination. Others include tiredness or weakness, muscle cramps, dizziness, thirst, excessive weight loss, increased blood sugar, skin rash, and nausea. Some water pills can lead to life-threateningly low or high levels of potassium in the blood.

Yes, but only in consultation with your HCP, since some water pills taken with certain medications can be dangerous. Here are some of the medications that may interact with water pills:

Initially, yes. While your body gets rid of the excess liquid, you may lose some weight. But the moment you start drinking fluids to replenish what you’ve lost, your weight will increase. That’s because when you take water pills, you’re losing water weight, not fat—so it’s not a healthy type of weight loss. And because your body relies heavily on water to function properly, losing too much water may lead to dehydration and other serious consequences.

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Lead to some weight loss, you should never take them for weight loss alone. A better plan to shed pounds is to forget magic cures—and stick to a smart combo of diet changes and exercise instead.

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To find out if you're a good candidate for weight loss surgery, watch this video in which bariatric surgeon James Butch Rosser Jr., M.D., discusses ...You can lose weight with water pills, but the weight loss only lasts until your next drink. Plus, these types of pills may not be good for your health. When it comes to weight loss, you're better off sticking with what works -- a reduced-calorie diet and planned exercise. If you're thinking about taking water pills -- also known as diuretics -- to drop a few pounds, check with your doctor first to discuss their safety and explore other alternatives to help you reach your goals.

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Water pills contain chemicals that force the kidneys to make urine more frequently and in larger volumes, so you'll spend a lot of time in the bathroom if you use them. These pills also increase the amount of salt in your urine, which may throw your electrolytes out of balance. They're usually used as a form of treatment for people who retain water in excess, including those with high blood pressure, as well as people with conditions that affect the heart, kidneys or lungs.

Water pills may cause the number on the scale to drop rapidly, but the loss is fleeting. These pills help you lose water weight, not fat weight, which means you'll regain those pounds as quickly as you lost them. Athletes with strict weight requirements, such as wrestling and rowing, use these types of pills to help them lose the weight before a meet. People with eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, may also use diuretics as a way to keep weight down.

Water pills may be available as an over-the-counter medication, but that

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