Osmotic agent
- Creates an osmotic gradient that draws water across membranes
- Reduces intracranial/intraocular pressure or forces diuresis
- Can transiently expand intravascular volume before diuresis
Drugs with this mechanism (3)
- Glycerin — Osmotic agent; oral for acute intraocular pressure, rectal as a suppository laxative.
- Isosorbide — Oral osmotic agent (Ismotic) for acute glaucoma — not the dinitrate or mononitrate.
- Mannitol — Osmotic diuretic for raised intracranial pressure and glaucoma.
Self-check
- Which two pressure compartments can osmotic therapy lower?
Intracranial and intraocular pressure. - What can happen to intravascular volume before osmotic diuresis?
It can transiently expand.
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