FUROSEMIDE

(Generic Name)

Furosemide, 40 mg

BRAND NAMES

Fumide

Lasix, 20 mg

Lasix, 40 mg

Lasix, 80 mg

(Also available in generic form)

TYPE OF DRUG

Diuretic.

PRESCRIBED FOR

Congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney

dysfunction, high blood pressure, and other conditions where it

may be desirable to rid the body of excess fluid.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Furosemide causes the production of urine by affecting the

kidneys. It may also cause lowered blood pressure. Furosemide

is particularly useful as a very strong drug with great diuretic

potential, when a drug with less diuretic potential would fail to

produce the desired therapeutic effect.

CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS

If given in excessive quantities, Furosemide will cause depletion

of water and electrolytes. It should not be taken without constant

medical supervision and without the dose being adjusted to your

particular needs. You should not take this drug if your production

of urine has been decreased abnormally by some type of kidney

disease, or if you feel you may be allergic to it or have

experienced an allergic reaction to it in the past.

Excessive use of Furosemide will result in dehydration or

reduction in blood volume and may cause circulatory collapse

and other related problems, particularly in older adults. In

addition, because of the potent effect that this drug has on the

electrolytes in the blood--potassium, sodium, carbon dioxide, and

others--frequent laboratory evaluations of these electrolytes

should be performed during the few months of therapy and

periodically afterward.

PREGNANCY/BREAST-FEEDING

Although Furosemide has been used to treat specific conditions

in pregnancy, it should generally not be used to treat a pregnant

woman because of its potential effects on the unborn child.

Although this effect has not been seen in humans, Furosemide

can cause kidney problems in unborn animals if given to animals

during pregnancy. If your doctor feels that your case warrants

the use of Furosemide, the decision to use this drug must be

made by you and your doctor based on the potential benefits

derived from this drug as opposed to the potential problems that

may be associated with its use.

If you must take this drug during the period that you are nursing

a newborn baby, you should stop nursing and feed the baby

prepared formulas.

SENIORS

Older adults are more sensitive to the effects of this drug. Follow

your doctor's directions and report any side effects at once.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

If you are taking Furosemide you should be aware that changes

may develop in potassium and other electrolyte concentrations in

your body. In the case of hypokalemia (lowered potassium)

produced by Furosemide, you may observe these warning signs:

dryness of the mouth, thirst, weakness, lethargy, drowsiness,

restlessness, muscle pains or cramps, muscular tiredness, low

blood pressure, decreased frequency of urination and decreased

amount of urine produced, abnormal heart rate, and stomach

upset, including nausea and vomiting. To treat this, potassium

supplements are given in the form of tablets, liquids, or powders,

or consumption of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, citrus

fruits, melons, and tomatoes is increased.

Furosemide may alter the metabolism of sugar in your body. If

you have diabetes mellitus, you may develop high blood sugar

or sugar in the urine while you are taking the drug. To treat this

problem, the dose of drugs that you are taking to treat your

diabetes will have to be altered.

In addition, people taking Furosemide have experienced one or

more of the following side effects: abdominal discomfort,

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, dizziness, light-headedness,

weakness, headache, blurred vision, fatigue, jaundice (yellowing

of the skin or whites of the eyes), acute attacks of gout, ringing

in the ears, reversible periodic impairment in hearing. There

have also been some reported cases of irreversible hearing loss.

Other side effects are dermatitis, unusual skin reactions, tingling

in the extremities, postural hypotension (or dizziness on rising

quickly from a sitting or lying position), and anemia of various

types. Rare side effects include a sweet taste in the mouth,

burning feeling in the stomach and/or mouth, thirst, increased

perspiration, and frequent urination.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Furosemide will increase (potentiate) the action of other

blood-pressure-lowering drugs. This is beneficial and is

frequently used to help lower blood pressure in patients with

hypertension.

The possibility of developing electrolyte imbalances in body

fluids is increased if you take other medications such as Digitalis

and adrenal corticosteroids while you are taking Furosemide.

If you are taking Furosemide because of congestive heart failure

and are also taking Digitalis, loss of potassium may significantly

affect the toxicity of Digitalis.

If you are taking an oral antidiabetic drug and begin taking

Furosemide, the antidiabetic dose may have to be altered.

If you are taking Lithium Carbonate, you should probably not

take a diuretic, which, by reducing the elimination of Lithium

from the blood, adds a high risk of Lithium toxicity.

Interaction with aminoglycoside antibiotics may cause periodic

hearing losses; make sure your doctor knows you are taking

Furosemide before he or she gives you an injection of an

aminoglycoside.

If you are taking high doses of Aspirin to treat arthritis or similar

diseases, and you begin to take Furosemide, you may have to

lower the dose of Aspirin because of the effect Furosemide has

on passage of Aspirin through the kidneys.

If you are taking Furosemide for the treatment of high blood

pressure or congestive heart failure, avoid over-the-counter drug

products for the treatment of coughs, colds, and allergies which

may contain stimulant drugs. Check with your pharmacist, who

can give you accurate information about any over-the-counter

drug and its potential interactions with Furosemide.

FOOD INTERACTIONS

Foods that are high in potassium, including bananas, citrus fruits,

melons, and tomatoes, should be given high priority in your daily

diet.

USUAL DOSE

Adult: 20 to 80 milligrams per day, depending on disease and

patient's response. Doses of 600 milligrams per day or even

more have been prescribed.

Infant and child: 4 to 5 milligrams per pound of body weight

daily in a single dose. If therapy is not successful, the dose may

be increased by steps of 2 to 5 milligrams, but not to more than

14 to 15 milligrams per day.

Maintenance doses are adjusted to the minimum effective level.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

If the amount of urine you produce each day is dropping or if

you suffer from significant loss of appetite, muscle weakness,

tiredness, or nausea while taking this drug, contact your doctor

immediately.

Furosemide is usually taken once a day, after breakfast. If a

second dose is needed, it should be taken no later than 2 in the

afternoon. This is to avoid waking up during the night to urinate.

If you forget to take a dose of Furosemide, take it as soon as you

remember. If it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled

dose, skip the one you forgot and continue with your regular

schedule. Do not take a double dose.