Lasix Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Lasix Tablet (furosemide) is a loop diuretic, sometimes called a water pill, that helps the body remove excess salt and water by increasing urine production. It is used to treat fluid retention linked to heart, liver, or kidney conditions, as well as high blood pressure. It is available as a tablet, oral solution, and injection, and should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

What is Lasix Tablet

Lasix is a loop diuretic, sometimes called a water pill. It helps remove excess salt and water from the body by increasing the amount of urine your body makes.

Lasix Tablet uses

• Treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disorders such as nephrotic syndrome
• Treats high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Treats swelling of the ankles, feet, legs, or even the brain or lungs caused by some heart, lung, liver or kidney conditions

Benefits of Lasix Tablet

• Helps control fluid build-up in the body
• Helps lower and control high blood pressure

How Lasix Tablet works

Lasix works by helping your body get rid of extra salt and water, which increases the amount of urine you make.

Lasix Tablet dosage

Lasix can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor. Do not break, chew, or crush the tablet. Take it around the same time every day to help you remember. Keep taking this medicine even if you feel well; stopping without talking to your doctor may make your condition worse. Doses for children are based on body weight and may change if the child gains or loses weight. If you take a fluid tablet like sucralfate, take your Lasix dose 2 hours before or 2 hours after it.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Oral solution
• Injection

Side effects of Lasix Tablet

Common

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Numbness or tingling
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Weakness
• Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
• Muscle spasm
• Skin rash
• Dehydration
• Increased urination frequency
• Low blood pressure
• Drowsiness or lack of energy
• Restlessness
• Fever
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Very dry mouth or unusual thirst
• Vomiting or feeling sick (nausea)
• Unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin
• Calf muscle spasms
• Muscle pains or cramps
• Weight loss

Serious

• Light-headed feeling, like you might pass out
• Ringing in your ears, hearing loss
• Muscle spasms or contractions
• Pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding
• High blood sugar symptoms - increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor
• Kidney problems - swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath
• Signs of liver or pancreas problems - loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, dark urine, jaundice
• Signs of an electrolyte imbalance - increased thirst or urination, constipation, muscle weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, feeling jittery, fluttering in your chest
• Severe dizziness or a spinning sensation
• Nose bleeds or bruising more easily than normal
• Deafness, ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight, flaking or peeling of the skin
• Gout (painful, swollen joints)
• Severe stomach pain, often with nausea or vomiting
• Symptoms of anaemia such as tiredness, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
• Loss of control of bladder or bowels
• Passing less urine than is normal for you
• Allergic reaction - hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat
• Severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling

Warnings and precautions

• It is not known if furosemide will harm an unborn baby. 
• Some sources say Lasix should not be used during pregnancy unless necessary, and the risks and benefits should be discussed with your doctor.
• Lasix passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby, and it may also reduce breast milk production. 
• Talk to your doctor before using it while breastfeeding.
• People with kidney disease should use Lasix with caution, and the medicine should not be used in people who cannot produce urine.
• People with liver problems, such as cirrhosis, should use Lasix with extreme caution and under medical supervision.
• Drinking alcohol while taking Lasix is not recommended because it can increase side effects like low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.
• Lasix can cause dizziness or blurred vision, so avoid driving or operating machinery if you feel this way after taking it.
• Do not use Lasix if you are unable to urinate.
• Taking more than the recommended dose will not make the medicine work better, and high doses can cause permanent hearing loss.
• Tell your doctor if you have had an MRI or a scan using a dye injected into your veins, since the combination can harm your kidneys.
• If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep taking Lasix even if you feel fine, since high blood pressure often has no symptoms.
• Do not eat large amounts of liquorice or take large amounts of laxatives while taking Lasix.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or change the dose without checking with your doctor.
• Get up slowly from sitting or lying down to avoid feeling dizzy or faint.
• Lasix can make your skin more sensitive to sunburn, so protect your skin with clothing and sunscreen when outdoors.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
• Store according to the manufacturer's labeling in a cool, dry place away from moisture and direct sunlight.
• Keep your Lasix oral solution in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight, where the temperature stays below 25°C
• Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
• Use within 8 weeks of opening the bottle.
• If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the bottle. Do not take this medicine if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you feel like you might pass out, have ringing in your ears or hearing loss, muscle spasms, easy bruising or unusual bleeding, or signs of high blood sugar.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of kidney problems, such as swelling, urinating less, or feeling tired or short of breath.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of liver or pancreas problems, such as loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of an electrolyte imbalance, such as increased thirst or urination, constipation, muscle weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, feeling jittery, or fluttering in your chest.
• Seek urgent medical attention if you think you have taken too much Lasix, even if you do not feel unwell.
• Call your doctor straight away if you become pregnant while taking this medicine, or if you have excessive vomiting or diarrhea, dry mouth or thirst, fainting, weakness, tiredness, drowsiness, muscle pain or cramps, fast heartbeat, or are passing less urine than normal.
• Call your doctor right away or go to the emergency department if you notice serious allergy signs, a widespread blistering skin rash with fever and sore throat, yellowing of skin or eyes, chest pain, lockjaw, or fainting with a rapid weak pulse.

Alternatives

• Torsemide
• Chlorthalidone
• Spironolactone
• Metolazone
• Triamterene