You must inform your doctor if you have any of these medical conditions before taking Lasix: enlarged prostate, cirrhosis or any form of liver disease, urination problems, high cholesterol, kidney disease, allergic to sulfa drugs, electrolyte imbalance, lupus, or gout.
How Effective is Lasix?
Lasix is a water pill which works as a loop diuretic which effectively helps the body by not absorbing too much salt. The unabsorbed salt will be passed through urine.
Lasix is given to people for the effective treatment edema (fluid retention) mainly in those suffering from kidney disorder (nephritic syndrome), liver disease or congestive heart failure.
Lasix is also used in the effective treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure)
Vital Details
If you have any problem with urination (like less or no urine) then you should not have lasix. Lasix has to be taken only in the preferred dosage; high dosages could cause hearing loss.
You must also inform your doctor if you recently took MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan or any other form of scans that use radioactive dye which is inserted through vein. Only take dosage of lasix as prescribed by your doctor. High dosages will cause hearing loss. If you feel well and you are high blood pressure tablets, you must still continue this medicine because high blood pressure may not show signs or symptoms.
Prior to Taking Lasix
If you have any allergic reactions to this medicine lasix then you should not take it, here are few conditions in which you must not take lasix:
- Not able to urinate
- Enlarged prostate, urination problems, bladder obstructions
- Triglycerides (fat in the blood)
- High cholesterol
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease or cirrhosis
- Lupus
- Gout
- Allergic to sulfa drugs
- Diabetes
- Electrolyte imbalance (low levels of magnesium or potassium in blood).
If you have undergone any MRI or any other type of scan which needs injecting radioactive due into your veins tell your doctor. These dyes with lasix will cause kidney diseases.
If you are planning to become pregnant or pregnant, inform your doctor as it is unknown if lasix can cause any harm to the unborn child.
Inform your doctor if you are breast feeding your child as it can pass through your breast milk to the child which will cause harm to the baby.
How to Take Lasix?
This medicine lasix has to be taken only and as given by your physician. It is important to follow all the guidelines in the label. There are chances for your doctor to change dosages from time to time to give you the best results. This medicine is not to be taken in any smaller or larger amounts and not to be taken when not required at all.
This medicine lasix should not be taken other than the prescribed dosages as it can cause irreversible hearing loss.
You must use a special dose-medicine cup or measuring spoon or special syringe provided to measure the medicine. If you do not have any of the above measuring objects you can ask one to your pharmacist.
There are high chances of you getting hydrated very easily due to high urination. This is why it is important to follow your doctors’ instructions correctly and taking sufficient potassium salt or potassium supplements in your diet.
Your doctor will prescribe frequent medical tests when you are on lasix.
Lasix should not be stopped just because you feel well and you must continue using lasix. In most of the cases, blood pressure medicine will need to be taken for the remaining life.
You must inform your doctor that you are on this medicine well ahead of any surgery.
Lasix has to be stored only in room temperature keeping it away from light, heat and moisture. Do not keep this medicine (oral solution) more than 90 days after the bottle is opened even if there is unused medicine.
What are the Side Effects of Lasix?
If you have any symptoms of allergic reactions to lasix get immediate medical assistance, in most cases swelling of your throat, lips tongue or face, difficulty in breathing or hives are the reactions
Get immediate medical assistance if you experience any of these severe side effects of lasix:
- Hearing loss, ringing in your ears
- Severe pain in stomach which spreads towards your back
- Problems with speech or memory, drowsiness or confusion
- Loss of appetite, musty or sweet breath odor, vomiting, nausea
- Easy bleeding or bruising, pale skin
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin, dark urine)
- Sore throat, ill feeling, or sudden weakness, chills or fever.
Electrolyte imbalance symptoms: mood changes, lack of energy, increased thirst, dry mouth, no or little urination, fast heartbeats, weakness or muscle pain
Kidney problem symptoms: swelling in your ankles or feet, difficult or painful urination, shortness of breath, feeling tired, no or little urination.
Skin reactions: swelling in your tongue or face, sore throat, fever, burning sensation in eyes, pain in skin which is then followed by purple or red skin rash which will then spread through upper body and face causing peeling and blistering.
Other side effects of lasix:
- Headache
- Tingling
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Blurred vision is also a side effect of lasix.