Atikins and Diuretics

Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

B-Worthey

Brian,

The problem with diuretics are these:

1. More risk of dangerously low levels of electrolytes especially potassium.
This can cause heart arrhythmias. If your diuretic is a "potassium sparing"
diuretic, taking additional potassium can be dangerous too.

2. Some diuretics raise blood sugars--particularly those in the thiazide
family. This might make it harder to get the benefit of low carbing because
your insulin will stay high even with a lower carb diet.

-- Jenny

168.5/137

Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work?


"Brian Worthey" wrote in message
.. .
Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor
put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

B-Worthey

I have been taking maxide for probably 30 years and still managed to lose 70
pounds in the past 2 years. My biggest mistake was in trying to quit...I
gained back 12 pounds and still am trying to lose all of them, 2 more to go.

Julia
250/180 (was 178 before stopping maxide)/150

"Brian Worthey" wrote in message
.. .
Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor
put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

B-Worthey

"Brian Worthey" wrote in message
.. .
Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor
put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

B-Worthey

Brian,

I've taking Maxzide for about two years now. It's a relatively safe and
effective drug, with one major thing to watch out for: Do not take
potassium supplements or use salt substitutes (such as Morton's Light Salt)
while taking it.

Maxzide is a "potassium sparing" diruretic combination which prevents the
loss of potassium from the body commonly commonly caused by other diuretics.
Taking K(potassium)-supplements or using the K-laden salt substitutes with
Maxzide can cause excess buildup of the K in the body and K overdose can
lead to interference with the heart's electical system. K is an electrolyte
essential for the heart to function normally, but overdose can cause heart
palpitations, irregular heartbeat, and in extreme cases can even lead to
heart failure.

I'm not a medical expert, but I have discussed this with my doctor and I
research the drugs that I take pretty thoroughly. I'm confident that the
Maxzide is safe; I know it's effective, and have personally had no problems
with it for the past 2 years. But I do avoid the salt substitutes and
supplements that contain potassium (including multivitamins).

Hope this helps.
--
Peter
website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo

In article , "Julia Ludovico"
wrote:

I have been taking maxide for probably 30 years and still managed to lose
70
pounds in the past 2 years. My biggest mistake was in trying to quit...I
gained back 12 pounds and still am trying to lose all of them, 2 more to
go.

Julia
250/180 (was 178 before stopping maxide)/150

"Brian Worthey" wrote in message
.. .
Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor
put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed
in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What
are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

B-Worthey





I've been taking a diuretic, and have lost 77 pounds in a little over a
year. Maxide was also the drug I was on.

347/270/???
Since 8/5/02

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send mail).

Brian Worthey wrote ...
Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor
put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

I've been on spironolactone (aldactone) for a few years now for PCOS. Pre-LC
I was on 50 or 100mg twice a day (can't remember, I think it was 100mg but I
frequently forgot to take the evening dose), and when I started LC I didn't
have any problems.

Unfortunately I foolishly stopped taking it for a few months (thinking it
might be interfering with weight loss). Weight loss didn't improve but my
skin got phenomenally oily and during summer my ankles and feet were
painfully swollen (over summer I was also off the LC so that contributed to
the excessive fluid), so I went back on it. Unfortunately now I can barely
tolerate 25mg twice a day - any more and I get terrible leg cramps in the
evenings as the fluid drains from my lower legs. And although after a few
months I think the oiliness has reduced a little, my T zone is still way
oilier than it used to be ( I had hoped to build up from 25mg to a
higher dose, but some days I can't even take my evening dose if I'm getting
bad leg cramps (not helped by having a compressed sciatic nerve, which
causes some weird cramping and pain down my left leg).

Spiro is a potassium-sparing diuretic. If the leg cramps are particularly
bad I put about 1/3 tsp of salt (which does contain potassium) into my
1.25litre water bottle and try and get as much of that down as I can before
bedtime.

Also a heaped teaspoon of vegemite seems to help - maybe it's vitamin B, or
could be just the salt. Tastes vile in that concentration, but does the
trick anyway.

Rachel
(New Zealand)

Your biggest problem is self-control.

--
JC

Lyle's New Ultimate Diet

"1. eat less you fat ****
2. exercise more you fat ****"

"Supergoof" wrote in message
...
Brian Worthey wrote ...
Is anyone else doing the LC diet and also taking a diuretic? My doctor
put
me on one (maxide) and also suggested doing Atkins, but I also noticed
in
the book it said to be careful or even avoid these combinations. What
are
the possible side effects? Any dangers?

I've been on spironolactone (aldactone) for a few years now for PCOS.
Pre-LC
I was on 50 or 100mg twice a day (can't remember, I think it was 100mg but
I
frequently forgot to take the evening dose), and when I started LC I
didn't
have any problems.

Unfortunately I foolishly stopped taking it for a few months (thinking it
might be interfering with weight loss). Weight loss didn't improve but my
skin got phenomenally oily and during summer my ankles and feet were
painfully swollen (over summer I was also off the LC so that contributed
to
the excessive fluid), so I went back on it. Unfortunately now I can barely
tolerate 25mg twice a day - any more and I get terrible leg cramps in the
evenings as the fluid drains from my lower legs. And although after a few
months I think the oiliness has reduced a little, my T zone is still way
oilier than it used to be ( I had hoped to build up from 25mg to a
higher dose, but some days I can't even take my evening dose if I'm
getting
bad leg cramps (not helped by having a compressed sciatic nerve, which
causes some weird cramping and pain down my left leg).

Spiro is a potassium-sparing diuretic. If the leg cramps are particularly
bad I put about 1/3 tsp of salt (which does contain potassium) into my
1.25litre water bottle and try and get as much of that down as I can
before
bedtime.

Also a heaped teaspoon of vegemite seems to help - maybe it's vitamin B,
or
could be just the salt. Tastes vile in that concentration, but does the
trick anyway.

Rachel
(New Zealand)