Diuretics are a class of drugs that promote urine formation and are categorized by their mechanism of action into thiazides, loop diuretics, and potassium-sparing agents, among others. These drugs act at different sites in the kidney; for example, thiazide diuretics primarily act on the distal convoluted tubule to inhibit the reabsorption of sodium and chloride; loop diuretics act on the medullary ascending limb to inhibit the reabsorption of sodium, potassium, and chloride; potassium-sparing agents act on the collecting duct, promoting sodium excretion while retaining potassium. Their effects involve specific ion channels and transport proteins, such as the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and the ENaC channel, thereby participating in the regulation of electrolyte and water balance in the body. Although there are no clear studies directly relating the use of diuretics to specific gene expressions and mutations, individual responses to diuretics may be influenced by genetic factors.