How to Take Furosemide

Furosemide is a water pill, also called a loop diuretic. Loop diuretics stop the salt absorption by your body, causing more salt to pass out in your urine. Furosemide is used to treat hypertension and fluid retention in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease and kidney disease. Furosemide is the generic name for the prescription drugs Lasix and Lo-Aqua. You can use Furosemide on its own or with a combination of other diuretics to treat high blood pressure.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Prescription
• Furosemide

1. Take Furosemide exactly as prescribed. Follow the doctor’s instructions or the instructions on the prescription bottle exactly. Read any information available from your pharmacist to better understand the uses and precautions.

2. Take Furosemide with a full glass of water. Drink plenty of water while you are taking Furosemide to avoid becoming dehydrated, since Furosemide increases the amount you urinate.

3. Increase the amount of potassium and salt in your diet while taking Furosemide. Furosemide removes the salt from your system. Eat foods rich in potassium or take a potassium supplement to counteract the effect of Furosemide.

4. Have your kidney and liver functions tested regularly while taking Furosemide to ensure they continue to function properly. You will need to have your blood tested regularly as well to monitor the effects of Furosemide. Do not miss any scheduled doctor’s visits.

5. Continue to use Furosemide if you are being treated for high blood pressure, even if you feel fine. Hypertension does not always have symptoms. Discontinuing Furosemide may cause your symptoms to return.

Tips & Warnings

• Store Furosemide at room temperature. Keep the medication away from extreme heat, moisture and light.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions about the amount and any special liquids you should drink while taking Furosemide.
• Inform your doctor before taking Furosemide if you have liver disease, kidney disease, lupus, gout, diabetes or allergies to sulfa or sulfa drugs.
• If you miss a dose of Furosemide, you should take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. In this case, you should skip the dose and continue taking Furosemide as prescribed. Never take a double dose of Furosemide.
• Furosemide is sometimes given once to treat an acute condition.
• Less serious side effects from taking Furosemide include headache, diarrhea, numbness, constipation, stomach pain, burning feeling, pain, tingling feeling, dizziness and blurred vision. Contact your doctor if the side effects become severe or are persistent.
• Do not take Furosemide if you are pregnant or nursing. Furosemide is known to cause birth defects in unborn children and to pass through breast milk.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to UV lighting. This includes the sun, tanning beds and sunlamps. Furosemide will make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Use sunscreen of at least SPF15 if you are going to be exposed to the sun for any length of time.
• Watch for the symptoms of an overdose which include loss of appetite, ringing in the ears, weakness, confusion, dizziness and fainting. Seek medical attention immediately if you notice the signs of an overdose.
• Do not take Furosemide if you already have trouble urinating.
• Serious side effects from using Furosemide include vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, thirst, jaundice, low fever, clay-colored stools, dark urine, poor appetite, weakness, drowsiness, light-headedness, restlessness, muscle pain, irregular heartbeat, easy bruising, easy bleeding and a blistering skin rash. Stop taking Furosemide and contact your doctor if you suffer from any of these side effects.
• Certain medications could cause an adverse reaction when combined with Furosemide. Inform your doctor before taking Furosemide if you are taking or have recently taken corticosteroids, corticotropin, barbiturates, narcotics, aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, cyclosporine, ethacrynic acid, tacrolimus, vancomycin, chloral hydrate, digoxin, lithium, high blood pressure medication, salicylates, succinylcholine, norepinephrine or tubocurarine.

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