Final answer:
The medication combinations Triamterene & Hydrochlorothiazide in Dyazide and Maxzide are used to treat hypertension and fluid retention through their diuretic properties, increasing urine output to reduce blood volume and pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combinations of medications Triamterene & Hydrochlorothiazide found in Dyazide and Maxzide are used primarily for the treatment of hypertension and fluid retention. These are a class of drugs known as diuretics, which increase urine output and decrease water retention in the body. Specifically, Hydrochlorothiazide is a frequently prescribed antihypertensive diuretic; it inhibits the Na+/Cl- symporter in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct of the nephron, resulting in the loss of Na+ with water following passively by osmosis. Loop diuretics, such as Furosemide (Lasix), work on a different part of the nephron known as the loop of Henle, inhibiting the reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- ions and increasing urination as a side effect. This mechanism helps reduce blood volume and pressure.