What is "chlorothiazide"

n. a diuretic drug (trade name Diuril) used in the treatment of edema and hypertension [syn: Diuril]

Chlorothiazide sodium (Diuril) is an organic compound used as a diuretic and as an antihypertensive.

It is used both within the hospital setting or for personal use to manage excess fluid associated with congestive heart failure. Most often taken in pill form, it is usually taken orally once or twice a day. In the ICU setting, chlorothiazide is given to diurese a patient in addition to furosemide (Lasix). Working in a separate mechanism than furosemide, and absorbed enterically as a reconstituted suspension administered through a nasogastric tube (NG tube), the two drugs potentiate one another.