Furosemide is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt. This allows the salt to instead be passed in your urine.

Furosemide is used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome.

Furosemide is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

The Furiosi brand of furosemide is only used in adults.

You should not use furosemide if you are unable to urinate.

Using more than your recommended dose will not make this medicine more effective. High doses of furosemide may cause irreversible hearing loss.

Before using furosemide, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, enlarged prostate, urination problems, cirrhosis or other liver disease, an electrolyte imbalance, high cholesterol, gout, lupus, diabetes, or an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Tell your doctor if you have recently had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or any type of scan using a radioactive dye that is injected into your veins. Do not take more of this medication than is recommended.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using furosemide even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Some drugs should not be used with furosemide.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use furosemide if you are allergic to it, if you are unable to urinate or have hepatic cirrhosis.

You should not use Furiosi if you have ascites or have allergies to medical adhesives.

To make sure furosemide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);

• enlarged prostate, bladder obstruction, or other urination problems;

• gout;

• lupus;

• diabetes;

• an allergy to sulfa drugs;

• kidney disease; or

• cirrhosis or other liver disease.

Tell your doctor if you have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or any type of scan using a radioactive dye that is injected into a vein. Contrast dyes and furosemide can harm your kidneys.

It is not known if furosemide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using furosemide. Ask your doctor about any risk. Furosemide may slow breast milk production.

Take furosemide exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Furosemide oral is taken by mouth. Furosemide injection is given in a muscle, under the skin, or in a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth.

Furiosi infusion lasts about 5 hours. Furiosi should not get wet. Do not bathe, shower, swim or exercise while wearing the infusor. Also do not apply any products such as lotions or creams in the area where the infusor is placed.

It is not recommended to travel by car or airplane while using Furiosi. Also do not use the infusor within 12 inches of mobile phones, tablets, computers, or wireless accessories such as remote control, or bucktooth devices.

Do not reuse a needle, syringe or cartridge. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

You may receive your first dose in a hospital or clinic setting if you have severe liver disease.

Do not use more than your recommended dose. High doses of furosemide may cause irreversible hearing loss.

Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Doses are based on weight in children and teenagers. Your child's dose may change if the child gains or loses weight.

Furosemide will make you urinate more often and you may get dehydrated easily. Follow your doctor's instructions about using potassium supplements or getting enough salt and potassium in your diet.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often and you may need other medical tests.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using furosemide even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using furosemide.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Throw away any unused oral liquid after 90 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Ascites:

Oral: Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
Maintenance dose: Administer the dose that provided the desired diuretic effect once or twice a day (e.g., at 8 am and 2 pm).

Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

Oral: Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
Maintenance dose: Administer the dose that provided the desired diuretic effect once or twice a day (e.g., at 8 am and 2 pm).

Usual Adult Dose for Edema:

Oral: Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
Maintenance dose: Administer the dose that provided the desired diuretic effect once or twice a day (e.g., at 8 am and 2 pm).

Usual Adult Dose for Nephrotic Syndrome:

Oral: Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
Maintenance dose: Administer the dose that provided the desired diuretic effect once or twice a day (e.g., at 8 am and 2 pm).

Usual Adult Dose for Renal Failure:

Oral: Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
Maintenance dose: Administer the dose that provided the desired diuretic effect once or twice a day (e.g., at 8 am and 2 pm).

Usual Adult Dose for Liver Cirrhosis:

Oral: Initial dose: 20 to 80 mg orally once; may repeat with the same dose or increase by 20 or 40 mg no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose until the desired diuretic effect has been obtained.
Maintenance dose: Administer the dose that provided the desired diuretic effect once or twice a day (e.g., at 8 am and 2 pm).

Comments:
-Edema may be most efficiently and safely mobilized by giving this drug on 2 to 4 consecutive days each week.
-When doses greater than 80 mg/day are given for prolonged periods of time, careful clinical observation and laboratory monitoring are particularly advisable.

Usual Adult Dose for Pulmonary Edema:

Oral: Initial dose: 80 mg/day, usually divided into 40 mg orally twice a day

Use: Treatment of hypertension alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

Maximum Adult Furosemide dose: 600 mg/day in patients with clinically severe edematous states.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Edema:

Oral: Initial dose: 2 mg/kg orally once; if the diuretic response to the initial dose is not satisfactory, may increase by 1 or 2 mg/kg and administer no sooner than 6 to 8 hours after the previous dose.
Maintenance dose: Adjust to minimum effective dose.

Maximum dose: 6 mg/kg

Use: Treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome, especially when an agent with greater diuretic potential is desired.

You should not use furosemide if you are allergic to it, if you are unable to urinate or have hepatic cirrhosis.

You should not use Furiosi if you have ascites or have allergies to medical adhesives.

To make sure furosemide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);

• enlarged prostate, bladder obstruction, or other urination problems;

• gout;

• lupus;

• diabetes;

• an allergy to sulfa drugs;

• kidney disease; or

• cirrhosis or other liver disease.

Tell your doctor if you have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or any type of scan using a radioactive dye that is injected into a vein. Contrast dyes and furosemide can harm your kidneys.

It is not known if furosemide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using furosemide. Ask your doctor about any risk. Furosemide may slow breast milk production.

Furosemide is sometimes used only once, so you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling very thirsty or hot, heavy sweating, hot and dry skin, extreme weakness, or fainting.

Keep this medicine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Dispose of unused furosemide solution after 90 days.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

If your doctor prescribes a low-salt or low-sodium diet, or to eat or drink increased amounts of potassium-rich foods (e.g., bananas, prunes, raisins, and orange juice) in your diet, follow these instructions carefully.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

Avoid becoming dehydrated. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while you are using furosemide.

Drinking alcohol with furosemide can cause side effects.

Furosemide could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

If you have high blood pressure, ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicines that can raise your blood pressure, such as diet pills or cough-and-cold medicine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to furosemide (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Furosemide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• a 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 - 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 (that may spread to your back), nausea or vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• signs of an electrolyte imbalance - increased thirst or urination, constipation, muscle weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, feeling jittery, fluttering in your chest.

Common furosemide side effects may include:

• diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite;

• numbness or tingling;

• headache, dizziness; or

• blurred vision.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective

If you also take sucralfate, take your furosemide dose 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take sucralfate.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• another diuretic, especially ethacrynic acid;

• methotrexate;

• chloral hydrate;

• lithium;

• phenytoin;

• an antibiotic;

• cancer medicine, such as cisplatin;

• heart or blood pressure medicine; or

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with furosemide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly, and blood tests should be done occasionally.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking furosemide.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.