[According to national and international guidelines, thiazide diuretics are considered first-line antihypertensive agents. They lower blood pressure and cardiovascular risk efficiently without serious side effects in low-dose monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensives. Furthermore, when given in combination with certain antihypertensive agents, a synergistic effect develops. Indapamide is a thiazide-like diuretic, virtually without metabolic side effects. Diuretics may have special benefit in the elderly and in certain target organ damage or concomittant disease (heart failure, hypervolaemia, etc). Adequate use of diuretic therapy can prevent hypertensive end-organ damage and other complications, and improves the patients' quality of life.]