* Generic Name: furosemide
* Brand Name: Lasix
* What is furosemide?
* What are the possible side effects of furosemide?
* What is the most important information I should know about
furosemide?
* What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
furosemide?
* How should I take furosemide?
* What happens if I miss a dose?
* What happens if I overdose?
* What should I avoid while taking furosemide?
* What other drugs will affect furosemide?
* Where can I get more information?
What is furosemide?
Furosemide is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your
body from absorbing too much salt. This allows the salt to instead be
passed in your urine.
Furosemide is used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with
congestive heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder
such as nephrotic syndrome.
Furosemide is also used to treat high blood pressure
(hypertension).
Furosemide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What are the possible side effects of furosemide?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction
(hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a
severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes,
skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering
and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
* ringing in your ears, hearing loss;
* easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
* sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills;
* painful or difficult urination;
* numbness, tingling, or burning pain;
* a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
* high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination,
dry mouth, fruity breath odor;
* signs of liver or pancreas problems--loss of appetite, upper
stomach pain (that may spread to your back), nausea or
vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin
or eyes);
* kidney problems--little or no urination, swelling in your feet or
ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; or
* signs of an electrolyte imbalance--dry mouth, increased thirst,
mood changes, weakness, drowsiness, lack of energy, muscle
pain, fast heartbeats, feeling restless, nausea, vomiting.
Common side effects may include:
* diarrhea, constipation;
* numbness or tingling;
* headache, dizziness; or
* blurred vision.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call
your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side
effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about furosemide?
You should not use this medicine if you are unable to urinate.
Do not take more than your recommended dose. High doses of furosemide
may cause irreversible hearing loss.
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking furosemide?
You should not use furosemide if you are allergic to it, or:
* if you are unable to urinate.
To make sure furosemide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
* kidney disease;
* enlarged prostate, bladder obstruction, urination problems;
* cirrhosis or other liver disease;
* an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium
or magnesium in your blood);
* high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the
blood);
* gout;
* lupus;
* diabetes; or
* sulfa drug allergy.
Tell your doctor if you have an MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging) or any type of scan using a radioactive dye that is
injected into your veins. Both contrast dyes and furosemide can harm
your kidneys.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Furosemide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. This
medicine may also slow breast milk production. Tell your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take furosemide?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may
occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or
smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not take more than your recommended dose. High doses of furosemide
may cause irreversible hearing loss.
Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a
special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a
dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Furosemide will make you urinate more often and you may get dehydrated
easily. Follow your doctor's instructions about using potassium
supplements or getting enough salt and potassium in your diet.
While using furosemide, you may need frequent blood tests.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood
pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure
medicine for the rest of your life.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are
using furosemide.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Throw
away any furosemide oral solution (liquid) 90 days after opening the
bottle, even if it still contains unused medicine.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Furosemide is sometimes used only once, so you may not be on a dosing
schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed
dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time
for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at
1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include feeling very thirsty or hot, heavy
sweating, hot and dry skin, extreme weakness, or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking furosemide?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may
feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid becoming dehydrated. Follow your doctor's instructions about the
type and amount of liquids you should drink while you are taking
furosemide.
Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.
What other drugs will affect furosemide?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time.
Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which
may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
If you also take sucralfate, take your furosemide dose 2 hours
before or 2 hours after you take sucralfate.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or
stop using, especially:
* chloral hydrate;
* lithium;
* phenytoin;
* cancer medicine, such as cisplatin;
* heart or blood pressure medicine; or
* another diuretic, especially ethacrynic acid.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with furosemide,
including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and
herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this
medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about furosemide.
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