Furosemide+amiloride
About
Furosemide+amiloride belongs to the class of 'diuretic drugs or water pills', primarily used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and oedema (fluid retention). Hypertension is a medical condition, in which the blood exerts high pressure (force exerted by circulating blood) against blood vessel's walls. This condition makes the heart to work harder in pumping the blood to the whole body. Hypertension can cause severe health complications, including stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. Oedema is a condition caused by a build-up of fluid and swelling in the ankles, feet and legs.
Furosemide+amiloride prevents the build-up of extra water in the body. This excess water can cause swollen ankles, shortness of breath and tiredness. It iconsists of Furosemide (loop diuretic) and Amiloride (potassium-sparing diuretic). Furosemide inhibits reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the ascending loop of Henle and proximal and distal renal tubules (different parts of the nephron in the kidney). Amiloride inhibits sodium-potassium exchange in the distal tubule of nephron (functional unit of the kidney). Furosemide+amiloride helps in clearing the excess fluids in the body in the form of urine.
Your doctor will advise you how often you take Furosemide+amiloride based on your medical condition. Like all medicines, Furosemide+amiloride can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some common side effects of Furosemide+amiloride include dizziness, light-headedness, headache, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, gas and diarrhoea. Most of these side effects of Furosemide+amiloride do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, please reach out to your doctor.
Do not stop taking Furosemide+amiloride without consulting your doctor since it may worsen your condition and increase the risk of future heart problems. Inform your doctor if you have any untreated salt/mineral imbalance (high potassium, low sodium level), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, dehydration, gout, hearing loss, Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency), dehydration and lupus (an autoimmune disease of tissues). Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or have any allergic reactions to Furosemide+amiloride. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the body's swelling. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please tell your doctor so that the dosage of Furosemide+amiloride can be prescribed accordingly.
Uses of Furosemide+amiloride
Medicinal Benefits
Furosemide+amiloride prevents the build-up of extra water in the body and treats hypertension (high blood pressure) and oedema (fluid retention). Furosemide+amiloride is a combination of medicine that consists of Furosemide and Amiloride. Furosemide is a 'loop diuretic' that treats high blood pressure, fluid retention (oedema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease or nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disease). Amiloride is a 'potassium-sparing diuretic' and treats hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) in people with high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. Furosemide+amiloride works by acting on different parts of the kidney to remove extra fluid and certain electrolytes while maintaining the body's potassium balance. Furosemide+amiloride clears the excess fluids in the body in the form of urine.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Furosemide+amiloride
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach/abdominal pain
- Gas
- Diarrhoea
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not use Furosemide+amiloride if you are allergic to Furosemide+amiloride or any of its components. Let your doctor know if you have any untreated salt/mineral imbalance (high potassium, low sodium level), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, dehydration, gout, hearing loss, Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency), dehydration and lupus (an autoimmune disease of tissues) before starting Furosemide+amiloride. Therapy with loop diuretics should be administered cautiously in patients with diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance, or a history of hyperglycemia (high glucose levels) since Furosemide affects your blood sugar levels. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a doctor before using Furosemide+amiloride. Furosemide+amiloride can increase the chances of light-headedness so rise slowly if you are sitting/lying and avoid operating any machine or doing any work that needs mental alertness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Furosemide+amiloride may interact with other diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide), respiratory drugs (fluticasone, albuterol), anti-depressants (lithium), drugs treating heart failure (digoxin, sotalol), anti-hypertensive drugs (valsartan, ramipril), corticosteroids (prednisone), painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen), arthritis drugs (meloxicam), diabetic drugs (Insulin glargine), immunosuppressants (tacrolimus) and birth control medication (drospirenone).
Drug-Food Interactions: Furosemide+amiloride may interact or may have decreased effect when used with alcohol.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Before using Furosemide+amiloride, let your doctor know if you have salt/mineral imbalance (high potassium, low sodium level), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, dehydration, gout, hearing loss, Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency), dehydration or lupus (an autoimmune disease of tissues).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAlcohol may lower your blood pressure. It would help if you avoided or limit consuming alcohol whilst taking Furosemide+amiloride
Pregnancy
cautionIt is advised to seek medical advice before using Furosemide+amiloride if you plan to conceive or pregnant before starting Furosemide+amiloride.
Breast Feeding
cautionFurosemide+amiloride may pass into the breast milk during breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before using Furosemide+amiloride if you are a lactating mother.
Driving
cautionFurosemide+amiloride may cause side effects due to lowering of the blood pressure such as dizziness or tiredness. If you feel dizzy or tired when taking this medicine, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before using Furosemide+amiloride. Furosemide+amiloride is to be administered with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Kidney
cautionFurosemide+amiloride to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust your dose depending upon your current kidney conditions.
Children
unsafeFurosemide+amiloride is not recommended for use in people below 18 years as the efficacy and safety have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with body mass index (BMI) between 19.5 and 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 you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Limit sodium chloride intake (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol, use only one serving for women and two servings for men.
- Quit smoking to lower the risk of heart diseases.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if you notice any fluctuations frequently, please contact your doctor immediately.
- Try including heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acid-containing foods in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oils like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil and coconut oil to lower your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly and seek medical advice if you notice any drastic fluctuations.
- Furosemide+amiloride may affect patients with hepatic impairment and hence Liver function monitoring and Liver Function Tests are advised to monitor the liver enzyme changes.
- Your doctor may advise you to get a regular kidney function test, blood examinations for potassium levels and other electrolytes while using Furosemide+amiloride to rule out any renal impairment.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: It is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure is defined as the amount of blood pumped by the heart and the amount of resistance exerted by the arteries against the blood flow. If the heart pumps more blood, then arteries become narrower and in turn, blood pressure becomes high. If blood pressure becomes uncontrolled, it may lead to serious heart diseases, including stroke and heart attack. Additionally, high blood pressure can also cause brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. Blood pressure is expressed as systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic blood pressure represents the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Diastolic pressure is exerted in the blood vessels when the heart beats and is in the resting state. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Hypertension is detected when systolic blood pressure is more than 140mmHg and diastolic pressure is higher than 90mmHg. Some of the symptoms of hypertension include headache, nose bleed, vomiting and chest pain.
Oedema: It is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues. It can affect any part of the body, preferably more in hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs.
FAQs
Furosemide+amiloride treats hypertension (high blood pressure) and oedema (fluid retention). Furosemide+amiloride consists of diuretic medications: Furosemide and Amiloride. It works by acting on different parts of the kidney to remove extra fluid and certain electrolytes while maintaining the body's potassium balance.
Furosemide+amiloride is recommended to use in dose and duration as advised by the doctor. Do not stop taking Furosemide+amiloride on your own as it may lead to a sudden rise in blood pressure increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Furosemide+amiloride can cause dizziness as one of its side effects. If you feel dizzy, try getting up slowly from a sitting or lying position. If your dizziness is severe or unmanageable, please seek medical advice.
Furosemide in Furosemide+amiloride may affect your blood sugar levels. Hence, therapy with loop diuretics should be administered cautiously in patients with diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance, or a history of hyperglycemia (high glucose levels). Please consult your doctor before taking Furosemide+amiloride if you have diabetes.
It is advised to follow a high protein and less fatty diet. Also reduce the intake of table salt in your foods, which plays a significant role in blood pressure and fluid build-up in the body. Furosemide in Furosemide+amiloride may reduce the potassium levels in your blood. It is recommended to add potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, orange juice to your diet.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
