Treatment of edema by the combined administration of chemically different diuretic agents

Despite the fact that edema can generally be controlled with the use of a single potent diuretic agent, there is a small group of edematous patients in whom such therapy is not sufficient. Heretofore these latter patients have generally been treated with diuretic cocktails consisting of a parenteral mercurial in combination with one or more mild diuretic agents which serve primarily to potentiate the action of the mercurials. The present study indicates that the combined administration of various chemically different but individually potent (benzothiadiazine, phthalimidine and mercurial) diuretics has substantial additive diuretic actions. Use of the latter combinations is encouraged in patients with refractory edema.