Frusemide / Furosemide

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Molecule Description

Furosemide is a diuretic medicine. It is used for the treatment of swelling over the body due to heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, or kidney disease. Furosemide is also used to treat high blood pressure. It works by decreasing sodium, chloride, and water absorption from the kidneys, causing their excretion through urine. Thus, it reduces body swelling by secreting extra salt and water through urine, causing increased urination. Common side effects include dry mouth, thirst, dizziness, low blood pressure (hypotension), headache, and electrolyte imbalances (low potassium/sodium). You will require frequent blood tests to check your kidney function and the levels of electrolytes (especially Potassium and Sodium).

Uses

Furosemide is used for the treatment of swelling over the body due to heart disease, lung disease, liver disease or kidney disease. It is also used for the treatment of high blood pressure.

Contraindications

When should one not use Frusemide / Furosemide

If you are allergic to this medicine.
If you have an underlying medical condition.
If you are allergic to sulfonamide medicine.
If you have low blood volume and dehydration.
If your doctor tells you that you have low sodium and low potassium level in blood.
If the patient has a coma or is in the initial stage of coma.
If you have kidney failure due to some medicines.
If you are a lactating woman.
If you have a rare hereditary blood disorder called porphyria.

Side effects

Common side effects of this drug are:

Dizziness
Headache
Blurring of vision
Lightheadedness
Dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
Fast/irregular heartbeat

Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy

Furosemide is not recommended to be used during pregnancy due to limited information available on its safety.

Breast Feeding

Breast-feeding is not advisable if you are taking Furosemide as it can pass into breast milk and affect the newborn.

Driving

Furosemide may make you dizzy and feel sleepy, which can influence your ability to drive. Hence caution is advised while driving.

Alcohol

It is advised not to consume alcohol during the treatment with Furosemide, as it may lower your blood pressure and may lead to side effects like dizziness or drowsiness.

Other General Warnings

Talk to your doctor if

You have an pre-existing medical condition such as, liver or kidney disease, low blood pressure, diabetes or gout etc.
You are already on certain medications like painkillers, other anti-hypertensive medicines etc.
You have dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness.
You have difficulty in urination.
You have low protein level in the blood, high blood calcium level. You may be asked to check the electrolyte levels before and after initiation of treatment.

Mode of Action

How Does It Work?

Furosemide works by decreasing sodium, chloride and water absorption from the kidney, causing its excretion through urine. Thus, it reduces body swelling by secreting extra salt and water through urine, causing increased urination.

Interactions

Interactions with other medicines

Some medicines can affect the way the Furosemide works or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time. Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
Especially, if you are taking medicines to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, blood-thinners, anti-infectives, anti-diabetics, anti-asthmatics, pain killers, immunosuppressants like ciclosporin, medicines for stomach related disorders or medicines for heart and brain-related disorders, etc.
Other medicines that should be used with caution are anti-epileptic medicines, oral contraceptives, etc.

Dosage

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose of may include dehydration, low blood pressure etc. If you have taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor or reach out to the nearest hospital immediately.

Missed a Dose

If you missed any dose of Furosemide, take it as soon as you remember. If it's time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dose schedule. Do not take a double dose of medicine to compensate for the missed one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Furosemide does not cause fat loss. It causes weight loss only if extra weight is due to swelling over the body by excretion of extra water through urine.

Furosemide causes a decrease in blood pressure by excretion of extra salt and water through urine.

Furosemide causes a decrease in uric acid absorption in the kidney, causing an increase in blood uric acid level. This can cause gout.

Furosemide causes decreased potassium absorption in the kidney and it is excreted through urine, causing decreased potassium level in the blood. Therefore, patients having low potassium levels in the blood should take potassium-rich food such as banana, sweet potato, spinach.

Dizziness, headache, blurring of vision, lightheadedness, dehydration are a few common side effects of Furosemides. These symptoms are usually mild and get resolved with time.