Furosemide

Sounds like 'few-ROW-seh-mide'

Key points about furosemide

Furosemide is a diuretic, which means it helps your body get rid of extra salt (sodium) and water.
It is also called a 'Water' tablet or 'water pill'.
Furosemide has a few different brand names and is also called Diurin or Lasix or Urex Forte.
Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects.

Furosemide is a diuretic, which means it helps your body get rid of extra salt (sodium) and water. It works by increasing the amount of urine (pee) you make. Furosemide is used to lessen extra fluid in the body (called oedema) caused by conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. This can reduce symptoms such as swelling in your ankles or feet, or shortness of breath. Furosemide is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

In New Zealand furosemide is available as tablets and liquid and can be given as an injection in the hospital.

The dose of furosemide will be different for different people.
Water retention (oedema): the usual dose is 20 to 40 milligrams a day. Some people may need higher doses.
High blood pressure: the usual dose is 40 to 80 milligrams a day.
Your doctor will advise you how long to take furosemide for.
Always take your furosemide exactly as your doctor has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much furosemide to take, how often to take it, and any special instructions.

Timing: Furosemide is usually taken once a day, in the morning. Some people may need a second dose, at lunchtime. Furosemide is best taken in the morning so it works during the day and your sleep is not disturbed by you needing to get up to go to the toilet during the night. But, if you want to go out in the morning and don't want to have to find a toilet, you can delay taking your dose until lunch-time or early afternoon. Read more about tips for taking diuretics. You can take furosemide with or without food.
Limit alcohol while you are taking furosemide. Alcohol may increase your chances of getting side effects such as dizziness.
Missed dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. But, if it is late in the afternoon, skip the missed dose and continue as usual the next day. Do not take double the dose.

Be careful when taking some pain relief medicines
Taking diuretics together with pain relief medicines called ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and diclofenac and medicines called ACE inhibitors or ARBs can be harmful to your kidneys. Read more about NSAIDs and blood pressure medicines.

Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
Do you have difficulty peeing, or do you have prostate problems?
Do you have problems with your liver or kidneys?
Do you have gout or diabetes? These conditions can be made worse by furosemide.
Are taking any other medicines? This includes any medicines you are taking which you can buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines and medicines you can buy for pain relief.

If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start furosemide. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.

Like all medicines furosemide can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.

Side effects	What should I do?
Feeling sick (nausea) Stomach upset	These are quite common when you first start taking furosemide, and usually go away after the first few days Try taking your furosemide dose with or after food Tell your doctor if troublesome
Dizziness Feeling lightheaded Feeling faint when you stand up	Be careful when getting up from either lying down or sitting to avoid falls. These effects put you at risk of falls and injuries, especially if you are elderly Be careful when driving or using tools until you know how this medicine affects you
Trouble with hearing such as ringing in the ears, reduced hearing or deafness (loss of hearing)	Tell your doctor
Signs of dehydration (losing too much salt and water) such as muscle cramps, weakness, dry mouth, thirst or passing unusually reduced amounts of urine	Tell your doctor
Signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rashes, itching, blisters, peeling skin, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or have problems breathing	Tell your doctor immediately or ring HealthLine 0800 611 116
Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.

Diuretics can interact with a number of other medicines and herbal supplements so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting diuretics or before starting any new medicines.

Be careful when taking some pain relief medicines

Taking the group of pain relief medicines called ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs) can be harmful to your kidneys. Examples include:

diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren Rapid)
ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen)
naproxen (e.g. Naprogesic)
celecoxib (Celebrex).

Taking NSAIDs together with diuretics and medicines called ACE inhibitors or ARBs can be harmful to your kidneys (this combination of medicines is called the triple whammy). If you are taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs and diuretics, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting NSAIDs.

Examples of ACE inhibitors are captopril, cilazapril, enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril and quinapril.
Examples of ARBs are candesartan, irbesartan, valsartan and losartan.

Before buying NSAIDs for pain relief, check with your pharmacist whether these are safe for you.

Read more about NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs and The triple whammy(external link) SafeRx

Heart failure | Manawa ngoikore
Hypertension (Mate pēhanga toto)
Kidney failure
Diuretics

The following links provide further information on furosemide.

Furosemide(external link), Amiloride and furosemide(external link) (te reo Māori(external link)) New Zealand Formulary Patient Information
Lasix(external link) Medsafe Consumer Information Sheets