uses of furosemide
(fur OH seh mide)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 uses of furosemide.
• Promptly report any muscle weakness or cramps to your doctor uses of furosemide.
What is furosemide?
• Furosemide is in a class of drugs called loop diuretics (water pills) uses of furosemide. It decreases the amount of fluid in the body by increasing the amount of saltand water lost in the urine uses of furosemide.
• Furosemide is used to reduce swelling in the body caused by congestiveheart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease uses of furosemide.
• Furosemide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide uses of furosemide.
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 uses of furosemide.
• 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 uses of furosemide.
• Furosemide is in the FDA pregnancy category C uses of furosemide. This means that it isnot known whether furosemide will harm an unborn baby uses of furosemide. Do not take furosemidewithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant uses of furosemide.
• Furosemide passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant uses of furosemide. Donot take furosemide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby uses of furosemide.
How should I take furosemide?
• Take furosemide exactly as directed by your doctor uses of furosemide. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you uses of furosemide.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water uses of furosemide.
• To reduce nighttime urination, take furosemide early in the day unlessotherwise directed by your doctor uses of furosemide.
• Do not stop taking furosemide suddenly even if you feel better uses of furosemide. Stoppingsuddenly could make your condition worse uses of furosemide.
• Store furosemide at room temperature away from moisture and heat uses of furosemide.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you rememberwithin 12 hours uses of furosemide. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the dose you missedand take only the next regularly scheduled dose uses of furosemide. Do not take a double dose ofthis medication uses of furosemide.
• If you take more than one dose daily, take the missed dose up to 2 hourslate uses of furosemide. If more than 2 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take only thenext regularly scheduled dose uses of furosemide. Do not take a double dose of this medication uses of furosemide.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention uses of furosemide.
• Symptoms of a furosemide overdose include weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue,dizziness, fainting, confusion, irregular pulse, nausea, and vomiting uses of furosemide.
What should I avoid while taking furosemide?
• Use alcohol cautiously uses of furosemide. Alcohol may increase the side effects of furosemide uses of furosemide.
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 uses of furosemide.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur uses of furosemide. 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 uses of furosemide.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur uses of furosemide. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome uses of furosemide.
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 uses of furosemide.
• 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 uses of furosemide.
• 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 uses of furosemide. Some medicines used to treat theseconditions may interact with furosemide and the effects on your heart may beincreased uses of furosemide.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with furosemide uses of furosemide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines uses of furosemide.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about furosemide written forhealth professionals that you may read uses of furosemide.
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