Pharmacology Proctored ATI Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Prep

Thiazide diuretics are commonly used to treat hypertension and edema by promoting the excretion of sodium and water from the kidneys. A notable side effect of thiazide diuretics is hypokalemia, which refers to a lower than normal level of potassium in the blood.

Thiazide diuretics inhibit sodium reabsorption at the distal convoluted tubule in the nephron, resulting in increased sodium and water excretion. Along with sodium, potassium is also lost in this process. This can lead to hypokalemia, making it essential for healthcare providers to monitor potassium levels in patients prescribed thiazide diuretics.

Hypoglycemia is not a typical side effect associated with thiazide use, as these medications do not primarily affect blood sugar levels. Hyperkalemia, on the other hand, is more commonly associated with potassium-sparing diuretics, which prevent potassium excretion. Hypercalcemia can occur but is not a direct and regular side effect of thiazide diuretics; instead, thiazides can cause increased calcium reabsorption in certain patients, but this is less common.

Given these factors, hypokalemia is indeed the expected side effect associated with thiazide diuretics