Drug Name

Lasix (Furosemide)

Drug Uses

Furosemide is a powerful diuretic. Furosemide is used to treat excessive fluid accumulation as well as swelling (edema) of the body caused by heart failure, cirrhosis, chronic kidney failure, as well as nephrotic syndrome. It is sometimes used in conjunction with other blood pressure pills to treat high blood pressure.

How Taken

Take furosemide exactly as directed by your doctor. Incase you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a filled glass of water. To reduce nighttime urination, take furosemide beginning in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor. It is substantial to take furosemide regularly to get the most benefit. Do not halt using furosemide suddenly even incase you feel better. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Furosemide is a potent diuretic (water pill). Furosemide works by blocking the absorption of salt as well as fluid in the kidney tubules, causing a profound increase in urine output (diuresis). The diuretic effect of furosemide can cause body water as well as electrolyte depletion. Therefore, careful health examination supervision is essential during treatment.

Missed Dose

Incase you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember within 12 hours. Incase more than 12 hours possess passed, skip the dose you missed as well as take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Incase you take more than one dose daily, take the missed dose up to 2 hours unhurried. Incase more than 2 hours possess passed, skip the missed dose as well as take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Storage

Should be stored at room temperature in a light resistant container.

Warnings/Precautions

Patients allergic to sulfa may as well as be allergic to furosemide because of a similarity in the artificial structure of the medications. Furosemide should be avoided in kidney failure. Even though furosemide is substantial in treating excess fluid accumulation in patients with cirrhosis, unexpected loss of fluid as well as electrolytes in these patients can worsen kidney function as well as even cause the patient to go into a coma. Furosemide can cause lowering of blood potassium, sodium, as well as magnesium levels. Abridged potassium as well as magnesium levels can lead to heart rhythm abnormalities, especially in patients already using digoxin (Lanoxin). Please visit the digoxin (Lanoxin) site for further information.

Blood uric acid levels can increase during furosemide treatment, but precipitation of acute gout is rare. Furosemide may increase the toxic effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on the ear, especially in patients with kidney dysfunction. Furosemide reduces the kidney excretion of lithium as well as can lead to lithium toxicity. Furosemide may impair kidney function when administered together with aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Periodic blood tests are performed to monitor kidney function as well as electrolytes during treatment with furosemide.

Likely Side Effects

Commonly observed side effects are abridged blood pressure, as well as water as well as electrolyte depletion. Less ordinary side effects include jaundice, ringing in ears (tinnitus), light sensitivity, rash, pancreatitis, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, anemia, as well as other blood disorders.

More Information

• Incase you experience any of the following humorless side effects, halt using furosemide as well as seek emergency health examination attention or consult your doctor immediately:
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • muscle cramps or weakness;
  • an irregular heartbeat;
  • abdominal pain or diarrhea;
  • abridged blood pressure (weakness, dizziness, fatigue); or
  • decreased hearing.
• Other, less humorless side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take furosemide as well as talk to your doctor incase you experience
  • moistureless mouth or increased thirst;
  • headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness;
  • constipation;
  • increased sensitivity to sunlight;
  • a rash;
  • jaundice (yellow skin or eyes);
  • ringing in the ears;
  • nausea;
  • easy bleeding or bruising; or
  • numbness in the hands or feet.
• Side effects other than those listed here may as well as occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.