Urinary System Drugs

Drugs that affect the urinary system include diuretics, osmotic diuretics, and urinary analgesics. Osmotic diuretics like mannitol work by drawing water into the renal tubules through an osmotic gradient, increasing urine output. Diamox is a weak systemic osmotic diuretic that also produces alkaline urine, useful for increasing excretion of some drugs. Nursing measures for diuretics include monitoring electrolytes and renal function, giving the drugs in the morning, and recording intake and output. Urinary analgesics like phenazopyridine relieve urinary tract pain symptoms from conditions like cystitis but have no antibiotic effect.