Chlorthalidone

Synonyms / Brand Names:

Overview
Chlorthalidone (spelled chlortalidone in the UK) is a drug used to treat hypertension. It is described as a thiazide diuretic (or, rather, a thiazide-like diuretic because it acts similarly to the thiazides but does not contain the benzothiadiazine molecular structure). Compared with other medications of the thiazide class, chlorthalidone has the longest duration of action, but a similar diuretic effect at maximal therapeutic doses. It is often used in the management of hypertension and edema.

Unlike loop diuretics, chlorthalidone efficacy is diminished in patients with certain renal diseaes (e.g. Chronic Renal Disease). A recent clinical trial (ALLHAT) compared chlorthalidone to doxazosin in the treatment of high-risk hypertensive patients. In this study, only chlorthalidone significantly reduced the risk of combined cardiovascular disease events, especially heart failure, when compared with similar drugs such as doxazosin. Chlorthalidone was approved by the FDA in 1960.

Mechanism of Action
Chlorthalidone increases the excretion of sodium, chloride, and water into the renal lumen by inhibiting sodium ion transport across the renal tubular epithelium. Its primary site of action is in the cortical diluting segment of the ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Thiazides and related compounds also decrease the glomerular filtration rate, which further reduces the drug's efficacy in patients with renal impairment (e.g. renal insufficiency). By increasing the delivery of sodium to the distal renal tubule, chlorthalidone indirectly increases potassium excretion via the sodium-potassium exchange mechanism (i.e. apical ROMK/Na channels coupled with basolateral NKATPases). This can result in hypokalemia and hypochloremia as well as a mild metabolic alkalosis, however, the diuretic efficacy of chlorthalidone is not affected by the acid-base balance of the patient being treated.

Initially, diuretics lower blood pressure by decreasing cardiac output and reducing plasma and extracellular fluid volume. Eventually, cardiac output returns to normal, and plasma and extracellular fluid volume return to slightly less than normal, but a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance is maintained, thus resulting in an overall lower blood pressure. The reduction in intravascular volume induces an elevation in plasma renin activity and aldosterone secretion, further contributing to the potassium loss associated with thiazide diuretic therapy.

Other Forms:

It is also available as a combination product with the beta blocker atenolol, marketed in the UK as Co-tenidone and in the US as Tenoretic.

Dosing and Administration
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