Furosemide+spironolactone
About
Furosemide+spironolactone belongs to a class of medicine called 'diuretics' (water pills) which helps to remove excess water from the body. Besides this, it also maintains the level of 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.
It is a short-acting diuretic prescribed for the treatment of resistant oedema (fluid overload) associated with pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), heart failure and hepatic cirrhosis (chronic liver damage). Furosemide+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. 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, stroke or angina (chest pain) in future.
You can take Furosemide+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 Furosemide+spironolactone based on your medical condition. Sometimes, you may experience low blood pressure (hypotension), dehydration, electrolyte disturbances (potassium and sodium), headache, nausea, or dizziness. Most of these side effects of Furosemide+spironolactone 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 Furosemide+spironolactone of your own as doing so may raise your blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of getting heart diseases and stroke. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from any kidney, liver or heart disease. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please tell your doctor so that the dosage of Furosemide+spironolactone can be prescribed accordingly. Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or are allergic to Furosemide+spironolactone. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the swelling of the body.
Uses of Furosemide+spironolactone
Medicinal Benefits
When you take Furosemide+spironolactone, 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 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 Furosemide+spironolactone
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Dehydration
- Hyponatremia (low sodium concentration in the blood)
- Hypochloraemia (low blood levels of chloride)
- Hypokalaemia (low potassium levels)
- Increased blood cholesterol
- Increased uric acid
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Increased urine volume
- Headache
- Drowsiness/somnolence
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Furosemide+spironolactone should not be given to the people allergic to Furosemide+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). Furosemide+spironolactone can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is not known, so it is better to tell your doctor if you are taking Furosemide+spironolactone and breastfeeding. Furosemide+spironolactone may cause vocal changes so special attention must be given to the patients using Furosemide+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 Furosemide+spironolactone.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Furosemide+spironolactone may interact with other high blood pressure-lowering pills (metoprolol, ramipril, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin), and it can lower your blood pressure leading to severe condition. Besides this, it also interacts with medicine to treat erectile dysfunction (sildenafil), anti-epilepsy medicines (carbamazepine, phenobarbital), immune-suppressing drugs (cyclosporine), and painkillers (ibuprofen, aspirin) etc.
Drug-Food Interactions: You are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Furosemide+spironolactone to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Furosemide+spironolactone should not be given to the 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), and patients with nil urine output (anuria).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Furosemide+spironolactone to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeFurosemide+spironolactone must not be taken during pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
unsafeBreast-feeding must be avoided during treatment with Furosemide+spironolactone.
Driving
unsafeIt is not recommended to drive after taking Furosemide+spironolactone as it may occasionally cause drowsiness due to orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure on standing from a lying position).
Liver
cautionFurosemide+spironolactone to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust your dose depending upon your current liver conditions.
Kidney
cautionFurosemide+spironolactone 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+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 Furosemide+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 the build-up of fluid 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: 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 is the measurement of the force that our heart uses to pump blood to all parts of the body. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, 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, it means 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.
FAQs
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.
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 to discontinue it.
A good rule is to drink enough fluid so that you're not thirsty for long periods.
The main side effect of Furosemide+spironolactone is peeing more often than normal. Most people need to pee about 30 minutes after taking Furosemide+spironolactone, and again within a few hours. Do not take Furosemide+spironolactone before going to bed or you may have to wake in the night to go for the urination frequently.
You should closely monitor your blood pressure, renal function and electrolytes within 4-6 weeks of commencing therapy. Besides this, frequent checks of the potassium level are required in patients with kidney failure and with creatinine clearance below 60 ml/min per.
Loop-acting diuretics, Potassium-sparing diuretics and Thiazide diuretics are three types of diuretics available for the treatment of oedema (fluid overload).
Yes, anything that increases the production of urine is known as 'Diuretic'. Green tea contains a little 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.
If your leg (foot, ankle) or any other body's part swelling, you need to visit any physician or cardiologist who could perform an ultrasound examination of your leg veins and an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram-ECG).
