chlorothiazide

drug

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Chlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic drug first synthesized in the late 1950s. It functions by interfering with the reabsorption of salt and water in the kidney tubules, thereby increasing urine flow. This action helps the body eliminate excess fluid, making it effective in treating edema (fluid accumulation).12

Chlorothiazide is also used to manage hypertension (high blood pressure). Its discovery was a significant development in treating cardiovascular diseases and stroke, as effective treatments for hypertension were scarce before 1950. Chlorothiazide can be taken orally, making it a convenient option for patients.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

pharmaceutical industry
Hypertension
…inhibitor more effective than acetazolamide, chlorothiazide was synthesized by a team of scientists led by Dr. Karl Henry Beyer at Merck & Co., Inc., and became the first successful thiazide diuretic. While acetazolamide causes diuresis by increasing sodium bicarbonate excretion, chlorothiazide was found to increase sodium chloride excretion. More importantly,…
Read More
…inhibitor more effective than acetazolamide, chlorothiazide was synthesized by a team of scientists led by Dr. Karl Henry Beyer at Merck & Co., Inc., and became the first successful thiazide diuretic. While acetazolamide causes diuresis by increasing sodium bicarbonate excretion, chlorothiazide was found to increase sodium chloride excretion. More importantly,…
Read More