Furosemide is a diuretic drug that is useful for removing excess fluid from the body through urine. This drug is often used to treat edema (buildup of fluid in the body) or hypertension (high blood pressure).
Furosemide works by blocking the absorption of sodium in the cells of the kidney tubules and increasing the amount of urine produced by the body. This drug is available in tablet and injection form.
Trademark: Diuvar, Edemin, Farsix 40, Furosemide, Lasix, Uresix, and Yekasix.
What is Furosemide?
| Type of medicine | diuretic |
| group | Prescription drugs |
| Benefit | Overcome fluid buildup in the body |
| Used by | Adults, seniors, and children |
| Furosemide for pregnant and lactating women | Category C: Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. The drug should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Furosemide may be absorbed into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor first. |
| Shape | Tablets and injections |
Warnings Before Using Furosemide:
- Do not use furosemide if you have a history of allergies to this drug and to sulfa drugs, such as sulfamethoxazole.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of enlarged prostate, kidney disease, liver disorders, gout, diabetes, lupus, and electrolyte imbalances.
- Tell your doctor if you have recently had a test that involves injecting a radioactive substance (contrast) into a vein before using this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy before using furosemide.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including supplements, and herbal products.
- See your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction or overdose after using this medicine.
Dosage and Instructions for Use of Furosemide
The dose of furosemide varies in each patient. The doctor will give the dose and determine the length of treatment according to the patient's condition.
Furosemide can be given in the form of oral medication or injections. Furosemide injection can be given IM (intramuscularly / into the muscle) or IV (intravenous / into a vein). The following is a breakdown of the dosage of furosemide based on the condition to be treated:
Condition: Acute pulmonary edema
- Mature: 40 mg IV injection. The dose may be increased to 80 mg by IV injection.
Condition: Edema due to heart failure
- Mature: 20–50 mg IM/IV injection or 40 mg tablet daily.
The maximum dose is 1,500 mg IM/IV injection per day or 80 mg tablet per day.
- Child: 0.5–1.5 mg/kg by IM/IV injection per day.
The maximum dose is 20 mg IM/IV injection per day.
Condition: High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Mature: Tablets 40–80 mg per day. Can be combined with antihypertensive drugs.
- seniors: The dose of furosemide tablets for the elderly always starts with the lowest dose, then gradually increases according to the patient's condition.
How to Use Furosemide Correctly
Follow your doctor's advice and read the information on the medicine package before using furosemide. Do not increase or decrease the dose without consulting your doctor first.
Furosemide tablets can be taken before or after meals. Take furosemide tablets with a glass of water.
If you forget to take furosemide tablets, take this medicine as soon as you remember it, if the break with the next consumption schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.
Injectable furosemide should only be given by a doctor or medical officer under the supervision of a doctor. The doctor will inject furosemide according to the patient's condition.
Doctors will usually advise patients to continue using the drug even though their health condition has improved. This aims to avoid recurrence of the condition, especially people with hypertension.
Store this medication at room temperature. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and keep out of reach of children.
Furosemide Interactions with Other Drugs
There are several drug interactions that can occur if furosemide is used with other medicines, including:
- Increased risk of kidney damage, if used with cephalosporin antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Increased risk of ear damage, if used with aminoglycoside antibiotics
- Increased risk of hyperkalemia, if used concomitantly with potassium-sparing diuretics
- Increased risk of heart damage, if used with cardiac glycoside drugs, such as digoxin or antihistamines
- Increased risk of hyponatremia when used with carbamazepine
- Decreased levels of furosemide in the blood, when used with the drug aliskiren
- Decreased risk of side effects of furosemide, when used with indomethacin
Furosemide Side Effects and Dangers
The use of furosemide has the potential to cause a number of side effects, including:
- Dizzy
- Vertigo
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
Do an examination to the doctor if the above complaints do not improve. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to the drug, such as an itchy rash, swelling of the mouth and lips, or have serious side effects, such as:
- stomach cramps
- Feel tired
- Mouth feels dry
- Arrhythmia
- Ears ringing
- Yellow skin
- Easily sleepy
- Faint