 Furosemide, a 'water pill,' is used to reduce the swelling and fluid retention caused by various medical problems, including heart or liver disease. It is also used to treat high blood pressure. It causes the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.
This medicine is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Special precautions
Before taking furosemide,
- Plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Furosemide may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
- If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking furosemide.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while taking furosemide, call your doctor.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, gout, or kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking medicines, especially other medications for high blood pressure, aspirin, corticosteroids (e.g., probenecid (Benemid), medications for diabetes, Lithobid), lithium (Eskalith, indomethacin (Indocin), digoxin (Lanoxin), prednisone), and vitamins. If you also are taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take it at least 1 hour after taking furosemide.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to furosemide, sulfa drugs, or any other drugs.
Side effects
Frequent urination may last for up to 6 hours after a dose and should decrease after you take furosemide for a few weeks. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- constipation
- restlessness
- headache
- blurred vision
- vomiting
- upset stomach
- thirst
- confusion
- dizziness
- weakness
- muscle cramps
If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- rapid, excessive weight loss
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- severe rash with peeling skin
- loss of hearing
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- ringing in the ears
- sore throat
- fever
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Do not let anyone else take your medicine.
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