What is Furosemide? Uses, warnings & side effects
Furosemide is a generic prescription diuretic or “water pill,” a type of drug that increases urination to eliminate excess water. Furosemide is a type of diuretic called a loop diuretic that acts rapidly and powerfully. For this reason, healthcare professionals often use it for serious problems like heart failure or urgent situations such as fluid in the lungs. Healthcare providers may prescribe it to lower blood pressure, but it’s not a first choice of diuretic unless the patient also has kidney disease.
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Furosemide overview
BRAND NAMES:
Lasix, Furoscix, Disal (veterinary use), Salix (veterinary use)
Generic Names:
Furosemide
Uses:
Treats fluid retention (edema) and high blood pressure.
Therapeutic Classes:
Diuretic, loop diuretic
Forms:
Tablet, oral solution (liquid), injection
How it’s taken:
By mouth, intramuscular injection, intravenous injection
What is Furosemide used for?
Furosemide tablets and injections increase urination to help drain excess fluid (edema) due to heart failure, liver cirrhosis, or kidney disease. Furosemide also helps reduce high blood pressure. Furosemide injections are used to treat urgent medical crises that require rapid loss of water like fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema) or fluid overload due to heart failure.
What form(s) does Furosemide come in?
Tablet
20 mg
40 mg
80 mg
Oral solution (liquid)
10 mg/mL
40 mg/5 mL
Injection
8 mg/mL
10 mg/mL
What are common Furosemide dosages?
For edema in adults: 40–120 mg taken by mouth once or twice per day OR 20–40 injection with additional doses once or twice per day as needed
For edema in children: 2 mg taken by mouth as a single dose followed by a second dose (2–4 mg/kg) as needed six to eight hours later OR 1 mg/kg injection followed by 2–6 mg/kg doses spaced at least 2 hours apart
For blood pressure in adults: 40 mg taken by mouth once per day
For pulmonary edema in adults: 40 mg IV injection with a second 40–80 mg IV injection one hour later if needed
Furosemide images - What does Furosemide look like?
Furosemide
120ml of 10mg/ml bottleFurosemide
500ml of 8mg/ml bottleFurosemide
60ml of 10mg/ml bottleFurosemide
10ml of 10mg/ml syringeFurosemide
4ml of 10mg/ml syringeFurosemide
20mg tabletFurosemide
40mg tabletFurosemide
80mg tabletFurosemide
10ml of 10mg/ml vialFurosemide
2ml of 10mg/ml vialFurosemide
4ml of 10mg/ml vial
How to take Furosemide
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
The doctor may also instruct you to take dietary supplements such as potassium. Make sure to follow these directions.
Furosemide can be taken with or without food.
You may take this medicine with food if it upsets your stomach.
How to take furosemide tablets
Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
If swallowing the tablet is difficult, it can be crushed. Before doing this, ask the prescriber or the pharmacist if this is okay.
Store furosemide tablets at room temperature protected from moisture and light.
How to take furosemide oral solution
You do not need to shake the bottle before measuring out a dose.
Measure doses using a calibrated oral syringe or other device for measuring liquid medicine. Do not use kitchen utensils or tableware.
Discard any unused solution 90 days after the bottle has been opened.
Store this medicine at room temperature protected from light.
What to do if you miss a dose of Furosemide
Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose.
Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Furosemide contraindications - Who shouldn't take Furosemide?
This medicine is not right for everyone.
Never use furosemide if you are not urinating at all (anuria).
Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to furosemide.
Furosemide cannot safely be given to people who are electrolyte-depleted until electrolyte levels are fixed.
Healthcare providers never use furosemide in people who are in a coma because of severe liver dysfunction.
Furosemide warnings
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.
Your doctor will do lab tests regularly to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you have:
Kidney disease
Liver disease (including cirrhosis)
Urinary retention including trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate
Diabetes
Low blood pressure
Lupus
Tell your doctor if you’re allergic to sulfa drugs.
Tell your doctor if you are on a low-salt diet.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Electrolyte depletion, particularly low potassium or low sodium
Increased blood sugar levels
Hearing problems
This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much, especially when you first use it or if you are dehydrated. Stand or sit up slowly if you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
Furosemide interactions & what to avoid when taking Furosemide
To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you use before taking furosemide.
Tell other healthcare providers you are using this medicine before they prescribe new medications.
If you are taking the stomach protectant sucralfate, take your furosemide dose at least two hours before or two hours after your sucralfate dose.
Ethacrynic acid, another diuretic, should never be taken with furosemide.
Some medicines may cause problems when combined with furosemide. Tell your doctor if you are also taking:
NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen
Blood pressure medications, particularly ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Corticosteroids such as prednisone
Thyroid medications
The heart failure drug digoxin
The cancer drug cisplatin
The immune suppressants cyclosporine or methotrexate
The seizure medication phenytoin
Lithium
Licorice supplements
Alcohol, narcotic pain medicine, or sleeping pills may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting when combined with furosemide.
People with high blood pressure should avoid medications that raise blood pressure including over-the-counter treatments for cold symptoms or weight loss.
Furosemide side effects - How does Furosemide make you feel?
Serious side effects
Talk to a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of a possible serious side effect including:
Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, uneven heartbeat
Confusion, weakness, muscle twitching
Sudden and severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, lightheadedness
Severe diarrhea
Yellow skin or eyes
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Hearing loss, ringing in the ears
Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
Blistering, peeling, red skin rash, or other skin problems
Fever, fatigue, appetite loss, weight loss, aches and pains, red or purple bumps on the skin
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Less serious side effects
Increased urination
Dizziness
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Stomach cramps
Find more detailed information about furosemide side effects here.
Sources:
Furosemide, Prescriber’s Digital Reference (PDR)
Furosemide, StatPearls
Furosemide injection prescribing information, NIH National Library of Medicine
Furosemide tablet, furosemide solution prescribing information, NIH National Library of Medicine
Furoscix furosemide injection prescribing information, NIH National Library of Medicine
Lasix furosemide tablet prescribing information, NIH National Library of Medicine
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