Which drug increases the excretion of water and sodium by the kidneys, reducing blood volume and blood pressure?

Losartan (Cozaar) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that is used to treat heart failure by lowering blood pressure and reducing fluid retention.

Patients taking losartan should:

• Weigh themselves every morning and report any changes.

This helps to monitor fluid status and detect signs of worsening heart failure.Weight gain of more than 2 kg (4.4 lb) in a week or 1 kg (2.2 lb) in a day should be reported to the health care provider.

• Call their doctor if they have a sore throat or fever.This could indicate an infection or a rare but serious side effect of losartan called angioedema, which causes swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

The other choices are wrong because:

• Losartan does not need to be taken with food to prevent stomach upset.It can be taken with or without food.

• Losartan does not increase the sensitivity to sunlight.However, some other medications for heart failure, such as diuretics, may do so.

• Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated is not recommended for patients with heart failure, as it may worsen fluid retention and overload the heart.Patients should follow their prescribed fluid restriction and limit their sodium intake.

Adrenergic drugs.These are drugs that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system by mimicking or enhancing the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine, the chemical messengers that activate adrenergic receptors.Adrenergic drugs can increase blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, vascular tone, and renin release by acting on different types of adrenergic receptors.

Choice A is wrong because beta blockers are drugs that inhibit the sympathetic nervous system by blocking the beta adrenergic receptors, which are responsible for increasing heart rate and contractility. Beta blockers can lower blood pressure and reduce cardiac workload.

Choice B is wrong because calcium channel blockers are drugs that inhibit the movement of calcium ions across the cell membrane of smooth muscle cells, which are found in blood vessels and the heart.Calcium channel blockers can relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure, as well as reduce heart rate and contractility.

Choice C is wrong because angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are drugs that block the action of angiotensin II, a hormone that causes vasoconstriction and stimulates the release of aldosterone, which increases sodium and water retention.

ARBs can lower blood pressure by dilating blood