Torasemide
About
Torasemide belongs to a group of medicines called diuretics (which increase urine production) 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 increases. The higher this blood pressure, the harder the heart has to pump. As a result, it leads to heart diseases, 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 swelling.
Torasemide 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 or stroke.
You can take Torasemide 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, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, or weak muscles. Most of these side effects of Torasemide 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 a Torasemide of 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 Torasemide can be prescribed accordingly. Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or are allergic to Torasemide. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the swelling of the body.
Uses of Torasemide
Medicinal Benefits
When you take Torasemide, the blood vessels in your body will relax and help lower the blood pressure. Also, it relaxes the blood vessels and helps to 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 to lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of heart attack or stroke. In addition, this relieves oedema and enables you to carry out your daily activities more efficiently.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Torasemide
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Dehydration
- Headache
- Feeling confused or dizzy
- Muscle cramps, or weak muscles
- Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
- Reduced levels of potassium and magnesium in your blood
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Let the doctor know before consuming Torasemide if you are allergic to Torasemide or any other medicine in the past, have low blood pressure (less than 90 mm of Hg), have had a heart attack, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, 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). Torasemide can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is unknown. So, it is better to tell your doctor if you take Torasemide and breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Torasemide may interact with medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats such as amiodarone, digoxin, disopyramide, flecainide and sotalol), medications that can change the level of potassium in your blood, such as potassium supplements, steroids, or other diuretics, medicines used to treat mental health problems, such as amisulpride, lithium, pimozide and risperidone, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) known as painkillers including diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen, medicines that treat high blood pressure, and medicine used to treat ulcers called sucralfate. If you are taking any of the above, speak with your doctor.
Drug-Food Interactions: You are recommended not to consume alcohol.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Torasemide should not be given to people with low blood pressure (hypotension), renal dysfunction (kidney diseases), cirrhosis (liver disease), diabetes, hyperuricemia (gout), low serum potassium (hypokalemia), patients with nil urine output (anuria), and other cardiovascular diseases.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Torasemide to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
cautionTorasemide should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing them. Please consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionTorasemide should not be used when breastfeeding unless clearly necessary. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing them. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
cautionDriving after taking Torasemide is not recommended as it may occasionally cause drowsiness.
Liver
cautionTorasemide 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
cautionTorasemide 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
cautionTorasemide to be taken with caution, especially if you are children below the age of 12. Your doctor may adjust your dose depending upon your age.
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 you to 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 servings 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.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation, then immediately contact your doctor.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids containing food 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.
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 is the measurement of the force our heart uses to pump blood to all body parts. 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.
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
Torasemide 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 or stroke.
A good rule is to drink enough fluid so that you're not thirsty for long periods.
There's no evidence that Torasemide reduces fertility in men or women. However, if you're a woman and you're trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor first.
No, the occurrence of gout due to Torasemide is very rare. However, it can cause an increase in the levels of uric acid.
Torasemide can be safely taken as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you. Conditions such as high blood pressure are life-long conditions and one should not abruptly discontinue it without discussing it with a doctor.
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.
It is a medical term for fluid retention. Due to oedema, the affected area starts swelling up. If it does not subside, please consult your doctor immediately.
