General
Description & Use
A
"water pill," is used to reduce the swelling and fluid retention
caused by various medical problems, including heart or liver disease.
Furosemide (or frusemide) is a loop diuretic used in the treatment
of congestive heart failure and edema. It is most commonly marketed
by Sanofi-Aventis under the brand name Lasix.
Lasix
contains the active ingredient furosemide (previously known as
frusemide), which is a type of medicine called a loop diuretic.
Furosemide is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic
medicine.
Diuretics
are sometimes referred to as ‘water tablets’. They
remove excess fluid from the body by increasing the production
of urine. Loop diuretics work by causing the kidneys to increase
the amount of salts such as potassium and sodium that are filtered
out of the blood and into the urine. When these salts are filtered
out of the blood by the kidneys, water is also drawn alongside.
As diuretics increase the removal of salts from the blood, they
also cause more water to be drawn out of the blood and into the
urine.
Related:-
Lasilactone
(Spironolactone/ Furosemide)
Furosemide
is used to treat conditions where excess fluid has been retained
in the body (oedema). For example, in heart failure, the pumping
mechanism of the heart is less effective. This can cause fluid
to build up in the ankles and the lungs (pulmonary oedema), which
makes it difficult to breathe. Furosemide helps the body to remove
this excess fluid. Removing fluid from the blood vessels also
decreases the pressure within the blood vessels. This makes it
easier for a weak heart to pump blood around the body. Furosemide
is therefore used to relieve the symptoms of heart failure.
Furosemide
is also used to remove excess fluid that can accumulate in people
with cirrhosis of the liver. This fluid may accumulate in the
abdomen (ascites) or in the legs (peripheral oedema).
At
higher doses the amount of water drawn from the blood into the
urine is much greater, therefore furosemide is also used when
there is reduced production of urine in people with kidney failure.
Furosemide
is given by injection in emergencies, when a rapid effect is required,
and in cases when the medicine cannot be taken by mouth.
What
is it used for?
Removing excess fluid (oedema) from the body, for example due
to conditions affecting the heart (eg heart failure), lungs, liver
(eg cirrhosis), or kidneys (eg kidney failure).
Warning!
While
having treatment with this medicine you will need to have regular
blood tests to monitor your kidney function and the levels of
salts such as potassium and sodium in your blood.
If
you experience any of the following symptoms while having treatment
with this medicine you should inform your doctor promptly, so
that the amount of fluids and salts in your body can be checked:
thirst, lethargy, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, muscle cramps,
scanty production of urine, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, nausea
and vomiting.
Use
with caution in
This
medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any
of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if
you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Precautions
Patients allergic to sulfa may also be allergic to furosemide
because of a similarity in the chemical structure of the medications.
Furosemide should be avoided in kidney failure. Even though furosemide
is important in treating excess fluid accumulation in patients
with cirrhosis, sudden loss of fluid and electrolytes in these
patients can worsen kidney function and even cause the patient
to go into a coma. Furosemide can cause lowering of blood potassium,
sodium, and magnesium levels. Low potassium and magnesium levels
can lead to heart rhythm abnormalities, especially in patients
already taking digoxin (Lanoxin).
Blood
uric acid levels can increase during furosemide treatment, but
precipitation of acute gout is rare. Furosemide may increase the
toxic effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on the ear, especially
in patients with kidney dysfunction. Furosemide reduces the kidney
excretion of lithium and can lead to lithium toxicity. Furosemide
may impair kidney function when administered together with aspirin
or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Periodic
blood tests are performed to monitor kidney function and electrolytes
during treatment with furosemide.
If
you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using
this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
