History of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
April 8, 2026
History of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) In this article we will describe the history of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Prehistory The term ‘peritoneum’ derives from the Greek peritonaion, mean...
Indapamide is a water tablet (diuretic) that works on the kidneys for high blood pressure.
Indapamide is a type of medicine known as a thiazide-like diuretic. While it is technically a “water tablet,” it is used differently than other diuretics.
At the standard dose used for blood pressure, it has a very mild diuretic effect (you won’t notice a massive increase in urination), but it is very effective at relaxing blood vessels.
Indapamide is primarily used to treat:
High blood pressure (hypertension): It is a first-line treatment, often used alone or alongside other medications like ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers.
Heart failure: Sometimes used to help reduce fluid build-up, though other diuretics are more common for this specific purpose.
Usually taken once daily, preferably in the morning.
The standard dose is 2.5 mg for immediate-release tablets or 1.5 mg for modified-release (MR) tablets.
Because it works over a long period, taking it in the morning usually avoids the need to wake up during the night to use the bathroom.
Common side-effects:
Low potassium levels (hypokalaemia): This is usually mild (and cannot be detected by the patient0; but can sometimes cause tiredness or muscle weakness.
Skin rashes: People with a known allergy to “sulfonamide” drugs may be more prone to this.
Dizziness: Feeling faint when standing up, especially when first starting the medication.
Less common (but more serious) side-effects:
Electrolyte imbalance: Significant decrease in sodium, potassium or magnesium.
High blood glucose (sugar): It can increase blood glucose levels; which is important for people with diabetes to monitor.
Gout: Like other diuretics, it can raise uric acid levels and trigger a gout attack.
Sensitivity to sunlight: You may sunburn more easily while taking this medication.
Indapamide works in the kidneys to increase the amount of salt (sodium) and water passed out in the urine.
More importantly, it acts directly on the walls of the blood vessels, causing them to relax and widen.
This combination reduces the pressure within the circulatory system, making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.
Doctors should monitor:
Blood pressure: To check the medication is working effectively.
Blood tests: To check kidney function (creatinine/GFR) and mineral levels, particularly potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
Blood glucose: Especially if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Note: If you experience severe vomiting or diarrhoea while taking indapamide, you should contact your doctor, as you may become dehydrated or develop an electrolyte imbalance more quickly.
History of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) In this article we will describe the history of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Prehistory The term ‘peritoneum’ derives from the Greek peritonaion, mean...
Is Low Blood Pressure Dangerous? Not Usually — But It Can Be Low blood pressure (hypotension) is often harmless, especially in young and otherwise healthy individuals. However, in some cases it ...
What Are the 10 Most Common Tablets for Atrial Fibrillation (AF)? Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. Managing AF typically req...
What is dapagliflozin – and who should benefit from it? Type of drug Dapagliflozin (Forxiga®) is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor How it works It works by blocking reabsor...
