Lasix Medications & Information
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Lasix Description
Generic Furosemide, a potent “water” pill or loop diuretic, helps to eliminate unneeded water and salt through urine. Water, sodium, chloride, and calcium when filtered out of the blood into the kidneys, mostly get reabsorbed. Furosemide forces the kidneys to release this excess accumulation by increasing the diuretic action – output of urine. The medicine is used to treat hypertension and edema.
Generic Lasix Uses
As Lasix increases the outflow of urine, it lowers blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, and is used to treat edema that can occur due to nephrotic syndrome, liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, problems of lymph nodes and severe hypercalcemia. It is also useful in treating pulmonary and cerebral edema.
Lasix is available as an injection, and tablet/liquid formulations. When injected, the diuresis takes effect within 5 minutes and may last for 2 hours; while when taken orally, diuresis occurs within 1 hour, and may last from 6-8 hours.
How to use Lasix
The medicine should be taken exactly as prescribed. Generally, it is given as a single dose to adults and children, with water, and may be taken regardless of food – if the doctor permits. The dose is decided after considering the patient’s medical condition.
Consult the pediatrician for use in children.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose, speak to your doctor. Don’t double doses to make up for a missed dose, as an overdose of Furosemide can result in dehydration, which has to be avoided.
Side Effects
The less serious and common side effects of this medicine may include:-
- Stomachache
- Diarrhea, or conversely constipation
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
An allergic reaction can include: rash, itching, labored breathing, severe dizziness, or swelling, for which you should contact your doctor for help at once and stop taking the medicine.
If any symptom persists/worsens, or if you experience a rare/serious side-effect like the following, contact your doctor immediately :
- Drowsiness/lightheadedness/tiredness
- Nausea, maybe even vomiting
- Dry mouth and/or thirst
- Rapid/uneven heartbeats
- Hearing loss
- Urinary bladder spasms
- Urinary problems – urinating less, or not at all
- Restlessness
- Muscular tenderness/numbness/weakness/pain
- Easy bruising/bleeding
- Symptoms of jaundice – yellowing of eyes/skin, abdominal-pain, low fever, loss of appetite, and dark urine
Overdose
Symptoms of overdose can include: dehydration, low blood pressure, fainting, severe decrease in urine, or severe weakness. If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
Interactions
Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine without your doctor’s permission. The following drugs, if taken, alongwith Furosemide, require careful medical monitoring : -
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as Gentamycin, or Tobramycin
- Vasopressors like Norepinephrine
- Renin inhibitors for treating hypertension like Aliskiren
- Alpha-adrenergic blockers such as Doxazosin
- Cardiac medications like Digoxin
- Medicines for treating active duodenal ulcers such as Sucralfate
- Antifungals like Amphotericin B
- Muscle relaxants such as Tubocurarine
- Corticosteroids such as Prednisone
- NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, or Indomethacin
- Aspirin in large doses, and other salicylates
Contraindication
This medicine is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to Furosemide, and other drugs including : -
- Other “water” pills like Ethacrynic acid, or Hydrochlorothiazide
- Medicines for treating GERD such as Cisapride
- Medications to treat cancer like Cisplatin
- Mood stabilizers such as Lithium
- Medicines to control high cholesterol like Cholestyramine, or Colestipol
Storage
Lasix should be stored at a room temperature of 15oC-30oC, away from heat, light and moisture; out of reach of children and pets.
Precautions
- Before you start taking Lasix inform your doctor about your entire medical history, especially mentioning any disease related to the kidney/liver/heart, untreated mineral imbalance, hypertension, gout, lupus, diabetes, or anuria [inability to make urine]. Give a complete list of the medicines – prescription/OTC/herbal products/nutritional supplements that you are taking, and mention any known allergies you have, particularly to anything in Lasix or sulpha drugs
- Pregnant and lactating women must consult their doctor before taking this drug; it is prescribed only when clearly needed in pregnancy. Women who are planning to have a baby should also consult their doctor before they take this medicine
- Should you require a surgery, inform the surgeon/dentist that you are taking Lasix
- Keep all your lab appointments as Furosemide can affect blood sugar and if you are diabetic, your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels to adjust your dose/anti-diabetic medication/diet
- As this medicine can also reduce potassium levels in the blood, these may also need to be monitored; you can also ask the doctor to prescribe a potassium supplement for you
- Lasix may make you more sensitive to heat and light; wearing protective clothing when outdoors and avoiding exposure to the sun/strong lights will help you
- Alcoholic beverages should be curtailed as this medicine can add to drowsiness
- Those who drive, or operate machinery should refrain from doing so, until they know how this drug affects them and are sure of handling its’ effects
- It is recommended that patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites take Lasix treatment in a hospital, for excessive use may cause dehydration which can be critical for them, and in a hospital, if required, steps can be taken immediately to control dehydration
- Elderly people who take this medicine should be more careful about their movements, as Furosemide can cause dizziness/drowsiness
- Dehydration can be prevented by sufficient intake of fluids
- It is recommended that you do not attempt to treat yourself by taking, increasing, decreasing, or stopping the medicine on your own
- Never share your medicine with anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms; it can do more harm than good to that person.
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