A man with hypertension takes a diuretic that is not potassium-sparing, and he does not increase his ingestion of potassium. Which of the following side-effects would the drug be most likely to cause?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The diuretic would cause increased excretion of potassium in the urine, leading to hypokalemia. This can cause depolarization of neuronal cell membranes and cardiac arrhythmias. Increased blood volume would not occur as the diuretic would be reducing blood volume. Hyperkalemia would be unlikely to occur due to the potassium-reducing effect of the diuretic.

A Man with Hypertension Takes a Diuretic That Is Not