Occasionally a patient decides to abuse diuretics.
Motivation:
(1) desire to lose weight
(2) real or perceive fluid retention
(3) psychological
People who may abuse diuretics include:
(1) bulimia or anorexia nervosa
(2) weight-based athletes (wrestlers, boxers, jockeys, etc)
(3) women with fluid retention
(4) body builders
Complications:
(1) dehydration
(2) electrolyte imbalances (hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, other)
(3) gout
(4) central pontine myelinolysis
(5) edema
Risk factors for complications:
(1) type of diuretic abused
(2) frequency of use
(3) dose of diuretic
(4) duration
(5) comorbid conditions
