side effects of furosemide tablets

Lasix, Lo-Aqua

What is the most important information I should know about furosemide?
• To reduce nighttime urination, take furosemide early in the day unlessotherwise directed by your doctor side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Promptly report any muscle weakness or cramps to your doctor side effects of furosemide tablets.

What is furosemide?
• Furosemide is in a class of drugs called loop diuretics (water pills) side effects of furosemide tablets. It decreases the amount of fluid in the body by increasing the amount of saltand water lost in the urine side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Furosemide is used to reduce swelling in the body caused by congestiveheart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Furosemide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide side effects of furosemide tablets.

Who should not take furosemide?
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
· an allergy to sulfa medicines such as sulfa-based antibiotics,
· kidney disease,
· liver disease,
· diabetes mellitus,
· gout, or
· systemic lupus erythematosus side effects of furosemide tablets.
• You may not be able to take furosemide, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Furosemide is in the FDA pregnancy category C side effects of furosemide tablets. This means that it isnot known whether furosemide will harm an unborn baby side effects of furosemide tablets. Do not take furosemidewithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Furosemide passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant side effects of furosemide tablets. Donot take furosemide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby side effects of furosemide tablets.

How should I take furosemide?
• Take furosemide exactly as directed by your doctor side effects of furosemide tablets. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water side effects of furosemide tablets.
• To reduce nighttime urination, take furosemide early in the day unlessotherwise directed by your doctor side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Do not stop taking furosemide suddenly even if you feel better side effects of furosemide tablets. Stoppingsuddenly could make your condition worse side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Store furosemide at room temperature away from moisture and heat side effects of furosemide tablets.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you rememberwithin 12 hours side effects of furosemide tablets. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the dose you missedand take only the next regularly scheduled dose side effects of furosemide tablets. Do not take a double dose ofthis medication side effects of furosemide tablets.
• If you take more than one dose daily, take the missed dose up to 2 hourslate side effects of furosemide tablets. If more than 2 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take only thenext regularly scheduled dose side effects of furosemide tablets. Do not take a double dose of this medication side effects of furosemide tablets.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Symptoms of a furosemide overdose include weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue,dizziness, fainting, confusion, irregular pulse, nausea, and vomiting side effects of furosemide tablets.

What should I avoid while taking furosemide?
• Use alcohol cautiously side effects of furosemide tablets. Alcohol may increase the side effects of furosemide side effects of furosemide tablets.

What are the possible side effects of furosemide
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingfurosemide and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· muscle cramps or weakness;
· an irregular heartbeat;
· abdominal pain or diarrhea;
· low blood pressure (weakness, dizziness, fatigue); or
· decreased hearing side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur side effects of furosemide tablets. Continueto take furosemide and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dry 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 of furosemide tablets.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur side effects of furosemide tablets. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome side effects of furosemide tablets.

What other drugs will affect furosemide?
• Before taking furosemide tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medications:
· lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);
· probenecid (Benemid);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis, OrudisKT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac(Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac(Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), fenoprofen (Nalfon), ketorolac (Toradol), orflurbiprofen (Ansaid); or
· a diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase,Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide(Orinase), and others side effects of furosemide tablets.
• You may not be able to take furosemide, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicationslisted above side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Also, before taking furosemide, tell your doctor if you are taking anyother medicine to treat high blood pressure, water retention, heart problems,prostate problems, or another condition side effects of furosemide tablets. Some medicines used to treat theseconditions may interact with furosemide and the effects on your heart may beincreased side effects of furosemide tablets.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with furosemide side effects of furosemide tablets. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines side effects of furosemide tablets.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about furosemide written forhealth professionals that you may read side effects of furosemide tablets.

Copyright 2005 D-S LTD.
All Rights Reserved.