Polythiazide is an oral diuretic drug that acts in the kidney, specifically in the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron. It is used to decrease edema and decrease blood pressure. In the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), the regulation of ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and magnesium occurs. In epithelial cells of the DCT, the basolateral membrane consists of the Na+/K+ ATPase, which pumps Na+ into the interstitium-blood area and K+ into the epithelial cell; the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, which pumps Na+ into the cell and Ca2+ into the interstitium-blood; and the chloride transporter which transports chloride into the interstitium-blood. The apical membrane contains a calcium channel that transports calcium from the lumen into the epithelial cell, a potassium channel that transports K+ out of the epithelial cell, and a Na+/Cl- cotransporter which transports Na+ and Cl- into the epithelial cell. Polythiazide targets this Na+/Cl- cotransporter. Polythiazide is transported from the blood into the epithelial cells, then is transported into the urine through the multidrug-resistant associated protein-4. In the lumen, it has access to the Na+/Cl- transporter and inhibits it preventing Na+ reabsorption. The inhibition of Na+ reabsorption results in a low cytosolic concentration of Na+ and increases the solute concentration of the lumen. This decreases the lumen-epithelial cell concentration gradient and as a result, less water would be reabsorbed from the urine. This effect is valued in conditions such as hypertension because it allows more water to be excreted in urine rather than be absorbed in the blood which increases blood volume. Side effects such as low blood sodium/potassium, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, vertigo, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), numbness and tingling, sensitivity to light, headache, rash, hives, muscle spasm, high blood sugar, weakness or restlessness can occur from taking polythiazide. This drug is administered as an oral tablet.

Polythiazide Diuretic Pathway References