Final answer:
Diuretics are classified by suffixes that indicate their type: '-thiazide' for thiazide diuretics, '-semide' for loop diuretics, and '-actone' for potassium-sparing diuretics. Examples include Chlorothiazide, Furosemide, and Spironolactone, each acting on different parts of the nephron to increase urine production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suffixes used to identify different classes of diuretics include '-thiazide', '-semide', and '-actone'. Examples of these suffixes in diuretic drug names are Chlorothiazide (Diuril), Furosemide (Lasix), and Spironolactone (Aldactone) respectively. These suffixes help classify the type of diuretic as thiazide, loop, or potassium-sparing.
1. Thiazide diuretics, such as Chlorothiazide and Hydrochlorothiazide, have the '-thiazide' suffix, which denotes that they inhibit the Na-Cl symporter in the distal convoluted tubules of the nephron.
2. Loop diuretics, indicated by the suffix '-semide' as seen in Furosemide, block the Na+/K+/2Cl- transporter in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, leading to an increase in urination which can help treat conditions like hypertension.
3. Potassium-sparing diuretics, recognized by the suffix '-actone' as in Spironolactone, are drugs that impede sodium reabsorption at the distal tubules and collecting ducts without causing potassium loss.