Drug Notes

Furosemide (By injection)

Furosemide (fure-OH-se-mide)

Treats fluid retention (edema) and swelling caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, or other medical conditions. This medicine is a diuretic ("water pill").

Brand Name(s):

Furosemide Novaplus, PremierPro Rx Furosemide

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or into a vein.
• Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using aspirin, bepridil (Vascor®), chloral hydrate (Noctec®), cisplatin (Platinol®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), indomethacin (Indocin®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), methotrexate (Folex®, Rheumatrex®), norepinephrine, phenytoin (Dilantin®), succinylcholine (Anectine®, Quelicin®), tubocurarine, a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), medicine for infection (such as amikacin, cephalexin, gentamicin, streptomycin, Amikin®, Garamycin®, or Keflex®), other medicine for high blood pressure (such as candesartan, enalapril, irbesartan, lisinopril, losartan, olmesartan, valsartan, Accupril®, Atacand®, Avapro®, Benicar®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Hyzaar®, Lotrel®, or Zestril®), or other diuretic or "water pill" (such as bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, hydrochlorothiazide, Edecrin®, or Zestoretic®). Tell your doctor if you are also using medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems.
• Tell your doctor if you are also using a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), licorice, or laxatives.
• Drinking alcohol or taking narcotic pain relievers or sleeping pills with this medicine may intensify feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or faint. Tell your doctor if you are drinking alcohol or using pain relievers or sleeping pills.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant may cause your unborn baby to be bigger than normal. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease (cirrhosis), diabetes, gout, hearing problems, low blood pressure, low blood volume, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or mineral imbalance (low calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium in the blood). Tell your doctor if you have an enlarged prostate, low protein in the blood, bladder problems or trouble urinating, or an allergy to sulfa drugs (such as sulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine, sulfisoxazole, Azulfidine®, Bactrim®, Gantrisin®, or Septra®).
• This medicine may cause you or your child to lose more potassium from your body than normal (hypokalemia). This is more likely to occur if you have liver disease (such as cirrhosis), or if you are using this medicine together with steroids (cortisone-like medicines), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), large amounts of licorice, or laxatives for a long time. Tell your doctor if you become sick with severe or continuing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, and drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated. Check with your doctor right away if you have one or more of these symptoms: dry mouth; increased thirst; muscle cramps; or nausea or vomiting.
• Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a sudden decrease in hearing or loss of hearing. You may also have dizziness or ringing in the ears with the hearing problem. Tell your doctor if you have dizziness or lightheadedness; a feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings; or a sensation of spinning.
• This medicine may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you or your child are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If the problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Blood in the urine, lower back pain, side pain, or sharp back pain just below the ribs.
• Confusion, body weakness, and muscle twitching.
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate.
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, or problems urinating.
• Fever chills, cough, or pain in the side or lower back.
• Hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain in your upper stomach.
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
• Severe diarrhea or stomach pain.
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Blurred vision.
• Diarrhea, constipation, or stomach pain or cramps.
• Headache.
• Loss of appetite.
• Mild skin rash.
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the shot or needle is placed.
• Sensation of spinning.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017