Today, pharmacy counters are simply overwhelmed with various drugs that have a diuretic effect. However, despite the large variety of drugs, many doctors prescribe an old and proven drug called furosemide to their patients.
This drug, like any other tool, has its own contraindications and instructions for use. Therefore, in order to avoid negative effects on the body, it is necessary to become more familiar with the existing nuances of its purpose and use.
Composition and release form
Tablets have a dosage of 40 milligrams. Sold in fifty pieces in one package. One tablet contains the following components:
- the main active ingredient is furosemide;
- auxiliary components: talc, potato starch, lactose, povidone, magnesium stearate, gelatin, colloidal silicon dioxide and microcrystalline cellulose.
The solution for intramuscular or intravenous injection is clear, with a faint yellow tint. The solution is poured into glass ampoules (2 mg). One ampoule contains:
- the main component is furosemide;
- auxiliary ingredients, such as sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, injectable water.
Indications for use
Furosemide is a anti-edematous diuretic drug, which is prescribed to patients with the following diseases:
- portal hypertension syndrome (liver cirrhosis);
- chronic heart failure second or third degree;
- nephrotic dysfunction.
Also, Furosemide is recommended for people with complex treatment of the following ailments:
cardiac asthma;- eclampsia;
- pulmonary edema;
- swelling of the brain;
- severe arterial hypertension;
- hypercalcemia;
- severe hypertensive crisis;
- formed diuresis.
cardiac asthma;It should be borne in mind that each separately taken disease requires an individual approach. Therefore, the dosage and method of taking a diuretic drug should be chosen by the doctor individually for each patient.
Possible side effects and contraindications
This diuretic is contraindicated in people who have been given at least one of the following diagnoses:
- stenosis of the urethra;
- acute glomerulonephritis;
- acute renal failure, which is accompanied by anuria;
- urinary tract hyperthyroidism;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- diabetic coma;
- hypotension;
- decompensated mitral or aortic stenosis;
- violation of water or electrolyte balance in the body;
- hypersensitivity to furosemide or its auxiliary components.
With extreme caution and only under the constant supervision of a doctor, Furosemide can be prescribed:
- pregnant women;
- women during lactation;
- people older than sixty years, especially if they have pronounced atherosclerosis;
- patients with diabetes.
When taking Furosemide, the following side effects may occur:
- Since the cardiovascular system: hypotension, arrhythmia, tachycardia and orthostatic hypotension.
- On the part of the central nervous system: dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, headache, confusion, weakness and apathy.
- Impaired vision or hearing, as this substance has a special effect on the senses.
- Disorder of the digestive system, which is usually expressed by a violation of the chair, vomiting, pancreatitis or cholestatic jaundice.
To avoid such unpleasant, and sometimes very life-threatening symptoms, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.
And in case of any abnormalities, it is necessary to stop taking the drug and call an ambulance.
When and how to take Furosemide
Furosemide is considered a potent diuretic, which is prescribed to reduce edema. In addition, this drug is taken by people suffering from high blood pressure.
Regardless of the disease, the diuretic should be prescribed only by the attending physician who is well acquainted with the history of the disease.
Often, doctors prescribe the following course of treatment with Furosemide:
- To relieve puffiness, it is necessary to take a diuretic drug, one tablet at most twice a day. This course should last no more than five days.
- To lower blood pressure, therapists may prescribe half a pill once or twice a day.
- With exacerbation of cardiac asthma or the occurrence of a hypertonic cruise, 20 milligrams of furosemide is administered intravenously.
Typically, the diuretic is administered orally thirty minutes before a meal. But there are cases that, as a rule, depend on the specifics of the disease, when Furosemide is prescribed after a meal.
In order to avoid overdose and side effects in no case be self-medicating.
The duration of the therapeutic course of such a therapeutic agent primarily depends on the severity and type of the disease and is determined solely by the doctor.
Combination of drugs
The active component of a diuretic drug when interacting with other drugs may adversely affect human health. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of a harmful combination of drugs, it is necessary to inform the doctor in advance about other used drugs.
Especially carefully it is necessary to take Furosemide with antibiotics, hormonal drugs, anti-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, insulin and other drugs for diabetes.
It should also be borne in mind that the diuretic drug enhances the effect of the drug that lowers blood pressure. In this connection, sudden dizziness and even loss of consciousness may occur.
Furosemide is usually prescribed in conjunction with Asparkam.
This combination is explained by the fact that a diuretic agent destroys potassium in the human body, which is a valuable electrolyte, and Asparkam, in turn, helps replenish such electrolyte.
Despite this useful combination, it is forbidden to take these two components on your own. Since Asparkam has a very large list of contraindications, the number of which in complex application with Furosemide may increase.
What is dangerous daily medication?
Very often, daily use of a diuretic is prescribed for serious diseases such as ascites (when fluid accumulates in the abdomen) and heart failure.
In the case of high blood pressure, daily intake of furosemide can lead to hypotension, dizziness. Therefore, in this case it is best to use other preparations of a milder action.
It is also worth noting that with long-term daily administration of the drug, various side effects may occur that may carry a risk to human life. In addition, various allergic reactions of the body are not excluded.
What to choose: Furosemide or Veroshpiron?
This question is more than incorrect, as these drugs are completely different. And therefore they are appointed for different medical purposes. Although there are cases when the attending physician makes a decision on the simultaneous intake of Veroshpiron and Furosemide.
To compare these two drugs, you need to consider their pharmacological features:
- Pharmacology Furosemide is represented by a strong diuretic effect, which contributes to the rapid elimination of salt and fluid from the body. Such a cleansing is strong, though short-lived. Also, this medicine is able to cope with edema, provided that the patient’s kidneys are able to respond to a diuretic drug.
- Veroshpiron belongs to poorly acting diuretic drugs. But despite this, it improves the treatment with furosemide and reduces the risk of side effects.
The price of Furosemide in pharmacies varies from 28 to 37 rubles for 10 tablets, and the cost of Veroshpiron is from 140 to 280 rubles.
