Lasix (Furosemide)

General information

Lasix is a loop diuretic used to treat high blood pressure or water retention (swelling) associated with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. The medicine prevents your body from absorbing too much salt. As a result it allows the salt to be passed in your urine. It is also used to control high blood pressure. Furosemide works by increasing the amount of urine produced and excreted, and by removing excessive water (edema).

Directions

It is recommended to take according to your doctor's instructions. The recommended adult starting dose for treating edema is 40 mg to 80 mg. If a satisfactory result occurs within 6 hours, the dose may be decreased or kept the same. If edema continues longer than 6 hours, the dose may be increased by 20 mg to 40 mg. When treating hypertension (high blood pressure), the dose of furosemide starts at 20 mg to 40 mg twice a day.

Precautions

Before starting your treatment with Lasix please inform your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, gout, lupus, diabetes, or an allergy to sulfa drugs. It is not recommended to take the medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This drug may make you dizzy or cause blurred vision. Seniors may be more likely to experience increased side effects from furosemide.

Contraindications

The patients with the following conditions can't use Lasix: hypersensitivity, severe liver failure, acute kidney failure with anuria, liver coma and precoma, stenois of urethra, acute glomerulonephritis, urinary tract obstruction, precoma, hyperglycemic coma, gout, arterial hypotension, heart attack, pancreatitis and others.

Possible side effect

If you experience any of the following side effects immediate medical help may be needed: dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fast or uneven heartbeat, muscle pain, weakness, drowsiness, restless, or light-headed, less than usual urination or absence of urination, easy bruising or bleeding, red blistering skin rash, hair loss, blurred vision, loss of appetite, joint pain, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, rapid heartbeat, swollen abdomen. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Drug interaction

Lasix can interact with the following medicines: aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin and others) or Edecrin, another diuretics, aspirin Sucralfate (Carafate), ACE inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril, enalapril, fosinopril), corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone, prednisone), diabetes medications (e.g., glyburide, rosiglitazone), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs; e.g., ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen), lithium, theophylline, angiotensin II receptor angatonists, antiseizure medication (e.g., carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin).

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time of the next intake just skip it and go back to your schedule.

Overdose

If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once. The overdose symptoms are loss of appetite, ringing in ears, severe weakness, dizziness, confusion, lightheadedness, or fainting.

Storage

Store the medicine away from children at room temperature in a dry and dark place.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.