Question

The drug Diamox is sometimes used to treat mountain sickness. Diamox inhibits the action of carbonic anhydrase in the proximal convoluted tubule. Polyuria is a side effect associated with the medication. Why does polyuria occur? Why does polyuria occur in patients with diabetes mellitus?

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer to the questions: Why does polyuria occur, when taking Diamox, and also, Why does polyuria occur in patients with diabetes mellitus, would be:

1. Polyuria occurs in patients being treated for mountain sickness with Diamox, because this medication, like all those belonging to the family of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors that stop the enzyme from being able to produce hydrogen and bicarbonate from water and carbon dioxide, also promote the excretion of sodium and potassium, and bicarbonate molecules and water. They are weak diuretics, but still, they do increase the production of urine.

2. The reason for polyuria, or the excess production of urine, to occur in diabetes mellitus, is, that when the body has excess presence of glucose molecules in the bloodstream which cannot be used by the cells to produce energy, these need to be released from the body. Since usually the physical reaction is that water will follow such molecules as sodium, or glucose in this case, then the kidneys begin to filtrate as much water diluted with glucose as possible, to regain the correct balance. This water plus glucose mixes with other substances and becomes urine. It must also be remembered that patients with diabetes mellitus tend to drink excessive water due to the high levels of glucose in the blood; therefore, the body, to mantain the correct balance of water, will start excreting the excess, and the glucose molecules will follow.