Frusemide+spironolactone
About
Frusemide+spironolactone belongs to a class of medicine called 'diuretics (water pills), which helps remove excess water from the body. It also maintains potassium in the bloodstream and prevents hypertension (high blood pressure due to oedema (fluid retention). Oedema or fluid overload is associated with pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lung) or heart failure (irregular heart pumping). Leg swelling is the main characteristic of oedema, which may be accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain (angina), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and swelling in other areas of the hands or abdomen.
Frusemide+spironolactone contains a short-acting diuretic (frusemide) and a long-acting aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone). It is prescribed to treat resistant oedema (fluid overload) associated with secondary hyperaldosteronism (chronic congestive cardiac failure and hepatic cirrhosis). Frusemide+spironolactone works by increasing the amount of urine that is 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. Frusemide+spironolactone effectively 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, stroke, or angina (chest pain) in the future.
You can take Frusemide+spironolactone with food or without food. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush, or break it. Your doctor will advise you how often you take Frusemide+spironolactone based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience low blood pressure (hypotension), dehydration, electrolyte disturbances (potassium and sodium), headache, nausea, or dizziness. Most of these side effects of Frusemide+spironolactone do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
To treat your condition, effectually continue using Frusemide+spironolactone for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. Do not use Frusemide+spironolactone without a doctor's advice if you had a skin reaction or irritation to any medicine. Consult your doctor before using Frusemide+spironolactone if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use Frusemide+spironolactone in more than prescribed doses or longer duration as it may cause adverse effects. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and all the medicines you take before taking Frusemide+spironolactone to rule out any side effects. Try not to stop taking Frusemide+spironolactone of your own, as doing so may raise your blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of getting heart disease and stroke.
Uses of Frusemide+spironolactone
Medicinal Benefits
Frusemide+spironolactone helps lose 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 to 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+spironolactone
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Dehydration
- Hyponatremia (low sodium concentration in the blood)
- Hypochloremia (low blood levels of chloride)
- Hypokalaemia (low potassium levels)
- Increased blood cholesterol
- Increased uric acid
- Low blood pressure (hypotension), including orthostatic hypotension
- Increased urine volume
- Headache
- Drowsiness/somnolence
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Frusemide+spironolactone should not be given to the people allergic to Frusemide+spironolactone, have low blood pressure (less than 90 mm of Hg), have had a heart attack, kidney disease (with creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min), liver disease, 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+spironolactone can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is unknown, so it is better to tell your doctor if you are taking Frusemide+spironolactone and breastfeeding. Frusemide+spironolactone may cause vocal changes, so special attention must be given to the patients using Frusemide+spironolactone and whose voice is significant for their work (like actors, singers, or teachers). Hypovolaemia or dehydration with electrolyte and acid-base disturbances must be corrected before using Frusemide+spironolactone.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Frusemide+spironolactone may interact with other high blood pressure-lowering pills (e.g. metoprolol, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin), which 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 medications (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital), immune-suppressing drugs (e.g. cyclosporine), and painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin) etc.
Drug-Food Interactions: You are recommended not to consume alcohol with Frusemide+spironolactone to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Frusemide+spironolactone 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 (hypokalaemia), and patients with nil urine output (anuria).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consuming alcohol while taking Frusemide+spironolactone as it may cause serious side effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeFrusemide+spironolactone is generally not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast Feeding
safe if prescribedIf you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
cautionIt is not recommended to drive after taking Frusemide+spironolactone as it may occasionally cause drowsiness due to orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure on standing from lying position).
Liver
cautionFrusemide+spironolactone to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust the dose depending on your current liver conditions.
Kidney
cautionFrusemide+spironolactone to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust the dose depending on your current kidney conditions.
Children
unsafeFrusemide+spironolactone is not recommended for children below 12 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Consume antioxidant-rich food. Blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, squash, and bell peppers are high in antioxidants.
- Eat natural diuretic foods. Asparagus, beets, green beans, grapes, onion, leafy greens, pineapple, leeks, pumpkin, and garlic are all-natural diuretic foods.
- Use healthy cooking oils like soybean, olive, canola, and coconut oil.
- You should avoid refined foods such as white bread, spaghetti, sugar, and red meat.
- Reduce or eliminate Trans fatty acids, which are found in commercially baked items such as cookies, cakes, crackers, French fries, onion rings, doughnuts, and processed foods.
- Avoid consumption of too much salt or salty food.
- Keep your weight under control with a BMI of 19.5-24.9.
- Regular physical activity or exercise like walking improves your blood flow.
- When possible, elevate your legs or the swollen area on a chair or pillows.
- Avoid standing or sitting for extended periods of time.
- Avoid chronic stress, as it can raise your blood pressure.
- Spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Quitting smoking and alcohol consumption is the best strategy to lower the risk of many health complications.
Special Advise
- Treatment with Frusemide+spironolactone requires regular monitoring of serum potassium, sodium, and creatinine level.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Oedema: Oedema, also known as fluid overload, occurs due to fluid build-up in spaces between the cells. Oedema can result from a variety of factors. Some oedema reasons are caused by your lifestyle, while an underlying medical problem causes others. Shortness of breath, chest pain (angina), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), and swelling in hands or abdominal areas are the symptoms of oedema.
Hypertension: The blood exerts increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels leading to hypertension. High blood pressure is expressed as systolic/diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats or pumps out blood. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries between the heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) by a blood pressure monitor called a sphygmomanometer. Some of the symptoms are headache, dizziness, nosebleeds, altered vision, chest pain, weakness, and shortness of breath. However, most of the time, the signs and symptoms of hypertension are none.
FAQs
Frusemide+spironolactone works by increasing the amount of urine that passes 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. Frusemide+spironolactone effectively 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, stroke, or angina (chest pain) in the future.
If your leg (foot, ankle), or any other body part, is swollen, you should see a doctor or a cardiologist who can perform an ultrasound examination of your leg veins as well as an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram-ECG).
Loop-acting diuretics, Potassium-sparing diuretics and Thiazide diuretics are three types of diuretics available to treat oedema (fluid overload).
Within the first 4-6 weeks of starting therapy, you should closely monitor your blood pressure, renal function, and electrolytes. Aside from that, patients with kidney failure and creatinine clearance of less than 60 ml/min must have their potassium levels checked on a regular basis.
The main side effect of Frusemide+spironolactone is peeing more often than usual. Most people need to pee about 30 minutes after taking Frusemide+spironolactone, and again within a few hours. Do not take Frusemide+spironolactone before going to bed, or you may have to wake up at night to go for urination frequently.
A good rule is to drink enough fluid so that you're not thirsty for long periods.
It is a medical term for fluid retention or overload. Due to oedema, the legs, hands and other body parts start swelling, increasing blood pressure. If it does not subside, please consult your doctor immediately.
Yes, anything that increases urine production is known as a 'Diuretic'. Green tea contains a small amount of caffeine and has a diuretic effect that increases the volume of urine formation. Drinking too much green tea increases your urge to urinate.