# Is Diurex Ultimate and Doans the same?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diurex-ultimate-and-doans-the-same/978907>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 27, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diurex-ultimate-and-doans-the-same/978907 "2023-01-27T16:30:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jaw52284](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@Jaw52284](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaw52284)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diurex-ultimate-and-doans-the-same/978907/1 "2023-01-27T16:30:51Z")

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Is Diurex Ultimate the same as Doans?

Diurex Ultimate contains magnesium salicylate. Doans contains magnesium salicylate tetrahydrate.

If they are the same, does that mean Doans are also effective as water pills? Or is Caffeine the only active ingredient in Diurex Ultimate that fights water retention?

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diurex-ultimate-and-doans-the-same/978907/2 "2023-01-27T22:26:52Z")

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Caffeine is the active ingredient that promotes urination (diuresis).

The salicylate is only intended as a pain reliever, so Doans pills shouldn’t have any diuretic effect.

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**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diurex-ultimate-and-doans-the-same/978907/3 "2023-01-28T12:14:39Z")

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The mention of tetrahydrate is unimportant, as its not going to be any hydrate once it is dissolved in your stomach… its going to be ionic salicylate …