The amount of furosemide that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. If you go to hospital, take the furosemide packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. Like all medicines, furosemide can cause side effects although not everyone gets them. Common side effects of furosemide happen in more than 1 in people.
They include:. It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to furosemide. These are not all the side effects of furosemide. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Furosemide is not normally recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding. However, your doctor may prescribe it if they think the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks. If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking furosemide.
These will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take it. There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Small amounts of furosemide may get into breast milk. It's also possible that furosemide may reduce the amount of milk you produce. If you need to take furosemide while you're breastfeeding, your doctor and midwife will monitor your baby's weight. Talk to your doctor, as other medicines might be better while you're breastfeeding.
Some medicines interfere with furosemide to stop it working properly or increase the chances of you having side effects. Some painkillers and remedies that you can buy from a pharmacy or supermarket contain a lot of sodium, which is found in salt. Too much salt can stop furosemide working properly. Medicines that contain a lot of salt include soluble paracetamol and soluble co-codamol , and some remedies for heartburn and indigestion. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor to see if these medicines are safe for you to take alongside furosemide.
There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with furosemide. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. A diuretic makes your body get rid of extra fluid through your kidneys. A loop diuretic works on a specific part of the kidney called the "loop of Henle" to increase the salt and water you pee out. This means you have less fluid in your tissues which helps get rid of oedema swelling.
You will also have less fluid in your blood, which helps reduce blood pressure. Furosemide starts to work within an hour but it may take a few weeks to fully take effect. If you're taking furosemide for high blood pressure , you may not have any symptoms. In this case, you may not feel any different when you take furosemide.
This doesn't mean that the medicine isn't working. It's important to keep taking it. Depending on the reason why you're on furosemide, you may have to take it for a long time, even for the rest of your life.
Furosemide is safe to take for a long time, but you will have to see your doctor or nurse every so often for blood and urine tests. These make sure the chemicals in your blood are properly balanced. How often you need to see your doctor or nurse for these tests will depend on the reason why you're taking furosemide, if your dose has changed recently, or if you have any other health problems.
Even if furosemide brings down your blood pressure successfully, it's best to carry on taking it. If you stop taking it, your blood pressure could go back up again. If you need medicines to lower your blood pressure, you'll probably need them for the rest of your life. Remember, by keeping your blood pressure low, you're protecting yourself against having a heart attack or stroke in the future.
Stopping it may cause your blood pressure to rise - and this may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe you a different medicine. There are 3 different types of diuretic: loop diuretics such as furosemide , thiazide diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics. Each type of diuretic works on a different part of the kidney. It's usually best to drink normally while you're taking furosemide.
A good rule is to drink enough fluid so that you're not thirsty for long periods. And to steadily increase your fluid intake when exercising and during hot weather. Passing pale, clear pee is a good sign that you're drinking enough. However, if you have heart failure or kidney problems you might need to limit how much fluid you drink. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how much you need to drink each day. Examples of thiazides include:.
Potassium-sparing diuretics reduce fluid levels in your body without causing you to lose potassium , an important nutrient. The other types of diuretics cause you to lose potassium, which can lead to health problems such as arrhythmia.
Potassium-sparing diuretics may be prescribed for people at risk of low potassium levels, such as those who take other medications that deplete potassium. Therefore, your doctor may prescribe a potassium-sparing diuretic with another medication that also lowers blood pressure. When taken as prescribed, diuretics are generally well tolerated. However, they can still cause some side effects. If you have side effects that bother you while taking diuretics, talk to your doctor.
They may prescribe a different medication or combination of medications to help reduce your side effects. Diuretics are generally safe, but there are some risks if you have other medical conditions or take certain medications. Before you take a prescribed diuretic, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions or issues:. Some medications that might interact with a diuretic include:. If you have questions about diuretics and other treatment options, talk to your doctor.
Prescription diuretics can be helpful in treating serious conditions, such as heart failure, to less-pressing conditions, such as mild high blood pressure. If your doctor prescribes a diuretic, feel free to ask them any questions you may have.
Consider discussing these questions:. If potassium levels become too high, it can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems and even cardiac arrest. People with high blood pressure or heart failure are often advised to limit how much salt or sodium they consume.
One way to do that is to use salt substitutes, but these products are high in potassium—a quarter teaspoon of one brand contains about mg of potassium. So, people who take potassium-sparing diuretics should avoid these products. If you take any diuretic medication, ask your doctor whether you need periodic testing of your potassium and kidney function.
To learn more about managing hypertension, buy " Controlling Your Blood Pressure: What to do when your doctor says you have hypertension. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Caffeine may have a mild, short-term diuretic effect. Caffeine is found in coffee , tea, soda, and energy drinks. People who regularly have drinks with caffeine can develop a tolerance to caffeine and will not see any difference. Mild edema often goes away on its own, but some cases need to be treated with diuretics. Fluid retention can stem from many different medical conditions and some drugs. Anyone who is thinking of using diuretics to get rid of extra fluid should discuss the possible causes of fluid retention with a doctor first.
Diuretics can be helpful for people with kidney disease whose kidneys cannot filter potassium. This can cause a buildup that leads to serious health issues. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels must be checked frequently when using diuretics. Kidney function and blood pressure also need regular testing regularly. People should only use diuretics if they have a condition that causes their body to retain water, and they should only use drugs that are prescribed by their doctor.
The use of diuretic medications can lead to complications such as:. Using natural foods like ginger or parsley as a spice or tea in food is considered safe. However, supplements are not regulated and may or may not contain what they claim. It is important to consult a physician before increasing an intake of natural diuretic, especially if a prescribed diuretic or other medication is already in use. Long-term use of diuretics can cause mineral deficiencies.
As a result, mineral levels should be closely monitored while taking diuretics. Some diuretics can lead to low levels of potassium in the blood. Symptoms of low potassium levels include:.
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