Frusemide
About
Frusemide belongs to a group of medicines called diuretics and is primarily used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and oedema (a build-up of fluid in the body). Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic condition in which the force exerted by the blood against the artery wall is high. If the blood pressure is high, it is harder for the heart to pump. As a result, it leads to heart disease, irregular heartbeat, and other complications. Oedema may occur in case of high blood pressure, where fluids of the body get trapped in the tissues of the hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs, leading to its swelling.
Frusemide works by increasing the amount of urine passed out from the kidneys. It effectively reduces excess fluid levels in the body and treats oedema (swelling) associated with heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease. This reduces the workload on the heart and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, it helps lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of heart attack or stroke.
You can take Frusemide with food or without food. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, or break it. Your doctor will advise you on how often you take your tablets based on your medical condition. Sometimes, you may experience dehydration, headache, nausea, or dizziness. Most of these side effects of Frusemide do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Try not to stop taking this medication on your own. Let your doctor know about this, as it may cause a rise in blood pressure and can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from kidney, liver, or heart disease. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please tell your doctor so that the dosage of Frusemide can be prescribed accordingly. Please tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to Frusemide or any other medicine in the past. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the swelling of the body.
Uses of Frusemide
Medicinal Benefits
When you take Frusemide, the blood vessels in your body will be relaxed, which will help lower the blood pressure. Also, it relaxes the blood vessels and helps improve blood flow. It helps in losing out excess fluids from the body by increasing the production of urine. This reduces the workload on the heart and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, it helps lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of heart attack or stroke. In addition, this relieves oedema and helps you carry out your daily activities more efficiently.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Frusemide
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Dehydration
- Headache
- Somnolence
- Fatigue
- Reduced levels of potassium and magnesium in your blood
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Frusemide should not be given to people allergic to Frusemide, have low blood pressure (less than 90 mm of Hg), have had a heart attack, kidney disease, or liver disease, are pregnant women, or planning to get pregnant and breastfeeding women. Besides this, it is contraindicated in low blood pressure (hypotension), cardiogenic shock (sudden stopping of blood flow to the heart), and aortic stenosis (heart valve problem). Frusemide can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is unknown. So, it is better to tell your doctor if you take Frusemide and breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Frusemide may interact with other high blood pressure-lowering pills (e.g. metoprolol, ramipril, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin) and can lower your blood pressure leading to severe conditions. Besides this, it also interacts with medicine to treat erectile dysfunction (e.g. sildenafil), anti-epilepsy medicines (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital), certain painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin), and medications used to treat irregular heartbeats (e.g. sotalol), and immune-suppressing drugs (e.g. cyclosporine). If you are taking any of the above, speak with your doctor.
Drug-Food Interactions: You are recommended not to consume alcohol while using with Frusemide to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Frusemide should not be given to people with cardiogenic shock (when the heart fails to pump required blood to the body), heart valve problem (stenosis), low blood pressure (hypotension), coronary heart disease, liver disease, or heart failure, low serum potassium (hypokalemia), patients with nil urine output (anuria) etc.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended not to consume alcohol while using Frusemide to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionFrusemide should not be used in pregnancy unless necessary. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Frusemide to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionFrusemide should not be used in breastfeeding unless necessary. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Frusemide to you. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
cautionDriving after taking Frusemide is not recommended as it may occasionally cause drowsiness.
Liver
cautionFrusemide to be taken with caution if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust the dose depending on your current liver conditions.
Kidney
cautionFrusemide to be taken with caution if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust the dose depending on your condition.
Children
cautionFrusemide can be used in children if prescribed by a doctor. The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor based on your child's age and body weight.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with a BMI of 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit sodium chloride (table salt) intake in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol, then only one serving for women and two for men is advisable.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress, as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids containing food and drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil to help lower your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation, immediately contact your doctor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: It is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Blood pressure measures the force our heart uses to pump blood to all body parts. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when the blood supply to the heart is blocked). High blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Systolic pressure is the pressure when the heart pumps blood out. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart is at the resting stage between heartbeats. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm of Hg, the systolic pressure is 140 mm of Hg, and diastolic pressure is 90 mm of Hg. Ideal blood pressure is around 120/80 mm of Hg.
Oedema: Swelling in the body parts such as ankles, feet and legs is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema.
FAQs
Frusemide works by increasing the amount of urine passed out from the kidneys. It effectively reduces excess fluid levels in the body and treats oedema (swelling) associated with heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease. This reduces the workload on the heart and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, it helps lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of heart attack or stroke.
Oedema or Edema is a medical term for fluid retention. The affected area begins to swell as a result of oedema. If it doesn't go away, please see your doctor right away.
Your symptoms may improve before the problem is completely cured. But, it would be suggested to complete the entire course of treatment even if you feel better.
Yes, Frusemide is contraindicated in people with known allergies to any of the components of Frusemide. It should be avoided in people with severe kidney or liver impairment and with anuria (reduction or absence of urine).
No, you are advised to inform your doctor and monitor your blood pressure for at least two weeks before stopping the medicine. Depending upon your current blood pressure readings, there is a possibility your doctor may lower your medicine dosage and not recommend discontinuing it.
Frusemide can be safely taken as long as your doctor prescribes it. Conditions such as high blood pressure are life-long conditions, and one should not abruptly discontinue it without discussing it with a doctor.
No, the occurrence of gout due to Frusemide is very rare. However, it can cause an increase in the levels of uric acid.
There's no evidence that Frusemide reduces fertility in men or women. However, if you're a woman trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor first.
