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Description
How does it work?
This medicine contains the active
ingredient frusemide (also known as furosemide), which is a type of
medicine called a loop diuretic.
Loop diuretics act in the kidney to remove excess water
from the blood, by causing an increase in the removal of salts such as
potassium and sodium. This removal of salts causes water to be drawn
out of the blood and into the kidneys, where it is then excreted in the
urine. Removing water from the blood causes a decrease in the volume of
fluid circulating through the blood vessels. This drop in fluid volume
decreases the effort required by the heart to pump blood around the
body.
There are many conditions which may lead to an accumulation
of fluid in the body (oedema). Frusemide is commonly used in conditions
such as heart failure, where the pumping mechanism of the heart is less
effective. It is used to relieve the symptoms of heart failure, such as
the shortness of breath seen with fluid on the lungs.
At higher doses the amount of water drawn from the blood
into the urine is much greater, therefore frusemide is also used when
there is reduced production of urine in patients with kidney failure.
Frusemide is also used to remove excess fluid associated
with liver failure, hypertension, and poor circulation in the periphery
(ie arms and legs).
What is it used for?
Excess fluid retention causing swelling (oedema) due to any cause
Kidney failure resulting in diminished production of urine
Warning!
It is recommended that individuals taking this medicine have their fluid and salt (electrolyte) balance monitored regularly.
If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking this
medicine you should inform your doctor promptly, so that the amount of
fluids and salts in your body can be checked: thirst, lethargy,
confusion, weakness, drowsiness, muscle cramps, scanty production of
urine, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, nausea and vomiting.
As diuretics cause your kidneys to produce more urine, you may
prefer to take this medicine in the morning rather than before going to
bed, as this will reduce the likelihood of you needing to get up in the
night to visit the toilet. Seek further advice from your doctor or
pharmacist.
Use with caution in
Breastfeeding
Diabetes
Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
Enlarged prostate gland
Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia)
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Low blood sodium levels (hyponatraemia)
Low volume of circulating blood (hypovolaemia)
Pregnancy
Not to be used in
Allergy to any of the active ingredients
Allergy to medicines from the sulphonamide group, eg the antibiotic sulphamethoxazole
Deficiency in the concentration of salts in the blood (electrolyte deficiency)
Kidney failure, preventing production of urine
Liver disease that is causing the patient to become unconscious
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of
its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop
using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or
breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks
to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or
planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and
only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the possible
risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
This medicine should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers,
and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the
possible risk to the baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible
side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The
following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated
with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not
mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any
side effect.
Headache
Muscle cramps
Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
High blood uric acid level (hyperuricaemia) which can cause kidney problems and gout
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Low blood calcium level (hypocalcaemia)
Alkaline body fluids and tissues (alkalosis)
Disturbances in the levels of chemical components (electrolytes) in the blood
Rash
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