Diuretics and Insomnia: All-Too-Common Bedfellows
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Use of certain prescription medications can sometimes cause insomnia; or difficulty in sleeping and/or staying asleep. Although the drug is prescribed for a specific medical condition, it may have unintended and unavoidable side effects. One such class of medications that may cause insomnia are diuretics.
What Is A Diuretic?
To understand the connection between diuretics and insomnia it is important to know what a diuretic is. A diuretic is a substance or medication that increases urinary output. There are many kinds of prescription diuretics, but the generic drug hydrochlorothiazide, often abbreviated HCTZ and sold under brand names such as Esidrix, Carozide, HydroDIURIL or Diaqua, is one of the most commonly prescribed diuretics in the US.
A diuretic can also be part of an individual’s daily dietary intake. Sometimes an individual consumes a food or beverage without knowing it may have diuretic effects. Three common diuretic beverages consumed daily by many are coffee, tea and alcohol. We already know that the caffeine in coffee and tea, and the stimulant effects of alcohol, can disrupt sleep. But what do these drinks have in common with thiazide diuretics and insomnia? Plenty, as we shall see. (more…)
