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The body responds to diuretic drug therapy in several different ways that can lead to diuretic resistance. Some of these responses cause the body to retain sodium and water in the short term, and some increase sodium and water retention in the long term. The action of a diuretic drug to increase the elimination of sodium in one segment of the kidney may result in the delivery of an increased load of sodium to downstream portions of the kidney, which then increases sodium reabsorption. Additionally diuretics remain the most effective symptomatic treatment for congestive heart failure by reducing preload, with the preference being the loop diuretics.

Diuretics have been used since the late fifties in the treatment of hypertension and remain one of the most important group of drugs used to reduce blood pressure, due to their efficacy and cost-effectiveness profile. Diuretics are among the most commonly prescribed medications and, due to their mechanisms of action, electrolyte disorders are common side effects of their use. Diuretic therapy itself and disorders of serum sodium and potassium were risk factors for an adverse outcome. Diuretics are a mainstay of therapy for a wide variety of diseases ranging from hypertension to the nephrotic syndrome.