Furosemide

Brand names of furosemide

  • Albert Furosemide
  • Apo-Furosemide
  • Fumide MD
  • Furocot
  • Furomide MD
  • Furosemide
  • Furoside
  • Lasaject
  • Lasimide
  • Lasix
  • Lasix Special
  • Lo-Aqua
  • Luramide
  • Myrosemide
  • Novo-Furosemide
  • Novo-Semide
  • Ro-Semide
  • SK-Furosemide
  • Uritol

A strong diuretic (also known as 'water pill'), furosemide is given to get rid of excessive salt and water build up in the body. The kidneys normally filter water, salt (comprising sodium as well as chloride) and different minute molecules from the blood and pass them into the kidney tubules. Eventually, this filtered fluid is excreted in the form of urine. It is interesting to note that a major part of these substances that are strained out from the blood are once again taken up by the blood prior to the fluid turning into urine and gotten rid of from the body.

Furosemide functions by the way of obstructing the blood from reabsorbing water, chloride and salt from the fluid filtered by the kidneys and present in the tubules of the kidneys, thereby resulting in an enhanced discharge of urine (also called diuresis). This drug starts its action within an hour of taking it orally and the state of diuresis continues for approximately anything between 6 hours and 8 hours. However, when this medicament is administered in the form of an injection, diuresis commences within just five minutes, while it lasts for about two hours. It may be noted that the diuretic action of furosemide may result in exhaustion of water, chloride, sodium as well as additional minerals in the body. Hence, it is important that this medication is used under watchful supervision of a proficient healthcare practitioner. In July 1982, furosemide was approved for sale and use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Things you need to tell your physician before taking furosemide

Prior to commencing therapy with furosemide, it is important to let your physician and pharmacist know if you have allergic reactions to this drug, any of its components, and/ or in case you are having any other allergy. You ought to be aware of the fact that this medicament may enclose some inactive elements that may result in allergies or additional health problems. Therefore, it is advisable that you consult your pharmacist regarding the ingredients of furosemide and whether they are suitable for you.

In addition, prior to using this medication for the very first time, you need to inform your physician or pharmacist about your entire medical history, particularly if you have suffered or are suffering from problems related to the liver and/ or the kidneys, gout, lack of ability to produce urine and lupus. People living with diabetes should have their levels of blood sugar checked regularly as by their physician's instructions and show the results to their physician, because this medication may have an effect on the levels of blood sugar. In such instances, the physician may possibly be required to adjust the patient's diet or diabetes medicines.

Using furosemide may possibly lessen the level of potassium in the bloodstream. In case you experience any potassium deficiency, talk to your physician and he/ she may possibly ask you to include food containing high amounts of potassium (for instance, orange juice and bananas) in your diet. Alternately, your physician may also recommend using supplements containing potassium to replenish the amount of mineral lost by your body. It is advisable that you talk to your physician regarding further information on this subject.

Furosemide has the potential to cause photosensitivity. Therefore, it is advisable that people using this medicament should keep away from being exposed to sunlight for long periods at a stretch, avoid tanning booths as well as sunlamps. When you have to go outdoors in the sun, it is important that you make use of a good sunscreen and also wear protective garments. Use of furosemide may also cause dizziness and blur your vision. Therefore, you should not perform any activity requiring clear vision and alertness, for example, using a machine or driving any vehicle, till you are sure about the impact of this drug on your body and you are confident of executing them safely. People taking furosemide should also restrict their consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Certain unrelated conditions, such as profuse sweating, vomiting or diarrhea may augment the chances of dehydration. In case you suffer from vomiting or diarrhea for a long period, you should bring this to your physician's notice. It is advisable that you abide by the instructions of your physician regarding the volume of fluids you are allowed to take.

In the event of having any type of surgery, you need to inform your surgeon, physician, and/ or dentist regarding all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs in addition to all herbal products you already use. It is worth mentioning here that elderly people taking furosemide ought to adopt additional precautions, as they are likely to be more susceptible to the adverse effects caused by this medication, particularly loss of mineral and water from the body and light-headedness.

This medicament should be given to pregnant women only when it is absolutely necessary for their condition. Therefore, before taking furosemide, pregnant women ought to consult their physician regarding the advantages and perils of taking this drug in their current condition. Furosemide has been found to go into breast milk and may possibly also have an effect on the production of breast milk. Hence, prior to breast feeding, new mothers should talk to their physician regarding the harms and benefits of doing so.

Usage

Furosemide is used to eliminate excessive fluid (water and salt) build up in the body that causes edema (swelling) as well as breathlessness in people having heart ailments, kidney disease and/ or liver cirrhosis. In addition, occasionally, this medicament is also used to assist in regulating hypertension (high blood pressure).

How to use furosemide

Furosemide is sold in the form of a tablet as well as a liquid and is taken through the mouth. Generally, furosemide is taken daily prior to lunch. In case you have been prescribed to take furosemide twice, you should take it once in the daytime and again in the afternoon. It is essential to take this medicament precisely as prescribed. You should be careful to stick to the instructions on the prescription label and if you do not comprehend any instruction or have any questions, seek the help of your physician or pharmacist. Never take this medication in larger or lesser doses or take it more frequently than what your doctor has recommended.

How furosemide works

All diuretics known as loop diuretics act on a particular part of our kidneys (called Henle's loop) so as to augment the elimination of sodium (salt) and water through urine.

Side effects

Serious:
Common:
Less common:

Possible interactions

Herbal medicines or minerals:
Using ginseng while being treated with furosemide may possibly raise the blood pressure, thereby making the benefits of taking this drug dull. In addition, using licorice, hawthorn, Siberian ginseng, ma huang, saw palmetto and goldenseal may possibly also raise the blood pressure. On the other hand, garlic, Indian snakeroot and calcium may cause the blood pressure to drop. Using couch grass is likely to further deteriorate edema caused owing to problems related to the heart or the kidneys.
Warning: Using St. John's wort is also likely to result in sensitivity to sunlight. While taking furosemide, you should check the levels of magnesium in your bloodstream at regular intervals and if it is found that there is a depletion of this vital mineral, it should be replaced. Always consult your physician prior to including any new herbal remedy or mineral to your already existing list of medications and dietary supplements.
Foods:
When you are being treated with furosemide, it is advisable that you talk to your physician if you would gain by consuming foods that have high potassium content. In addition, you need to strictly follow the instructions of your physician regarding salt intake. You should know that food causes the body to reduce the assimilation of furosemide by as much as 30 per cent. It is also important that you take this drug no less than an hour prior to and two hours following a meal.
Alcohol:
People taking furosemide should avoid alcoholic beverages as it may inflate this medication's actions to lower blood pressure and may also result in orthostatic hypertension.
Exposure to heat:
Make sure that you do not sweat excessively, as this may result in further water and salt loss from your body.
Exposure to sun:
People using furosemide ought to be careful while going out in the sun, for the use of this drug may make you sensitive to sunlight.
Occurrence of unrelated illness:
Even developing ailments that may not be associated with your condition, such as diarrhea or vomiting may result in a grave disparity in vital body chemistry. Hence, seek the help and guidance of your physician on such occasions.
Heavy exercise or exertion:
Patients taking furosemide should ensure that they keep away from undertaking rigorous exercises or other activities that may cause extreme exhaustion, light-headedness and/ or muscle cramps. Consult your physician before you undertake any exercise schedule or participate in active sports.

Discontinuation

It is advisable that you should stop taking furosemide about five to seven days prior to undergoing any major operation. Seek the help of your doctor, surgeon or anesthesiologist regarding adjusting the dose of this medication or discontinuing it prior to a surgery.

Storage instructions

Furosemide ought to be kept in the pack or container in which it was purchased. Keep this medicament at normal room temperature and in a place free from too much heat and humidity. Never store furosemide in your bathroom medicine cabinet. In addition, ensure that you always keep all medications beyond the reach of children. Discard the furosemide liquid that has not been used after a period of 60 days. Also discard all medicaments that have lapsed their expiry day or those you do not require anymore. Consult your pharmacist regarding the safe as well as appropriate manner of disposing such medical products.

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