{"id":59038,"date":"2023-06-30T10:00:15","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=59038"},"modified":"2025-09-12T16:05:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T20:05:17","slug":"foods-to-avoid-when-taking-furosemide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/foods-to-avoid-when-taking-furosemide\/","title":{"rendered":"3 things to avoid when taking furosemide"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve probably experienced bloating and fluid retention at some point. <\/span>Excess water and sodium retention<\/span> can happen if you consume a large amount of salt. But it can also occur due to certain medical <\/span>conditions<\/span><\/a>, like liver, heart, or kidney problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you have fluid retention caused by health problems, your provider may prescribe <\/span>furosemide<\/span><\/a>. Also known by <\/span>the brand name <\/span>Lasix<\/span><\/a>, the diuretic is commonly <\/span>used<\/span> to decrease edema (fluid retention) in patients with chronic health conditions. Currently, furosemide has <\/span>approval<\/span> from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat <\/span>hypertension<\/span><\/a> (high blood pressure) or edema caused by <\/span>congestive heart failure<\/span><\/a>, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease (including <\/span>nephrotic syndrome<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re taking a diuretic like <\/span>furosemide<\/span><\/a>, you might be wondering <\/span>what foods to avoid and which to include in your diet. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>15 signs of heart problems worth worrying about<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

How furosemide works<\/span><\/h2>\n

Furosemide is a generic<\/a> prescription drug that is available as a tablet or liquid. It belongs to a class of medications called <\/span>loop diuretics<\/span><\/a>. Diuretics, also known as water pills, increase urine output, says <\/span>Denise Pate<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified physician and medical director at <\/span>Medical Offices of Manhattan<\/span><\/a> in New York.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The kidneys are in charge of purifying the blood, eliminating waste, and controlling how much water and salt we have in our bodies. Furosemide works on the kidneys to help minimize water retention, says Dr. Pate. It works by opening channels in the kidneys that allow more fluid to escape into the urine, explains <\/span>Fred Kuhn<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified cardiologist at <\/span>The Heart Center at Mercy<\/span><\/a> in Baltimore. \u201cThink of the channels as a series of faucets that open and close; furosemide opens the faucet,\u201d Dr. Kuhn says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, furosemide increases urine output and decreases the quantity of water and salt in the body, says Dr. Pate. She says it helps alleviate symptoms such as bloating, ankle or leg swelling, and trouble breathing due to illnesses such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\n

3 foods and beverages to avoid with furosemide<\/span><\/h2>\n

Furosemide may be affected by certain foods and beverages, so your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding or limiting their intake. For example, you may wonder if you must avoid grapefruit juice, which <\/span>interacts<\/span><\/a> with many medications. Good news if you\u2019re a grapefruit lover\u2014according to Dr. Kuhn, the citrus fruit doesn\u2019t interact with furosemide. That said, if you\u2019re taking furosemide, you\u2019ll want to watch your intake of high-sodium foods, caffeine, and alcohol.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. High-sodium foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

Are you a fan of potato chips? You\u2019ll want to pass on that extra salt if you\u2019re taking furosemide. If someone is on a diuretic medication, they are probably already experiencing fluid retention, says <\/span>Eric Ascher, DO<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified family medicine physician at <\/span>Northwell Health\u2019s Lenox Hill Hospital<\/span><\/a> in New York.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Too much sodium<\/span><\/a> causes our bodies to hold onto more water, potentially increasing swelling and fluid retention, Ascher explains, and advises to watch out for these foods in particular, which are all packed with sodium: <\/span>
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