Furosemide, a 'water pill,' is used to reduce the swelling and fluid retention caused by various medical problems, including heart or liver disease. It is also used to treat high blood pressure. It causes the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.

This medicine is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Special precautions

Before taking furosemide,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to furosemide, sulfa drugs, or any other drugs.

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking medicines, especially other medications for high blood pressure, aspirin, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), digoxin (Lanoxin), indomethacin (Indocin), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), medications for diabetes, probenecid (Benemid), and vitamins. If you also are taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take it at least 1 hour after taking furosemide.

• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, gout, or kidney or liver disease.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while taking furosemide, call your doctor.

• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking furosemide.

• Plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Furosemide may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

Side effects

Frequent urination may last for up to 6 hours after a dose and should decrease after you take furosemide for a few weeks. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• muscle cramps

• weakness

• dizziness

• confusion

• thirst

• upset stomach

• vomiting

• blurred vision

• headache

• restlessness

• constipation

If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• fever

• sore throat

• ringing in the ears

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• loss of hearing

• severe rash with peeling skin

• difficulty breathing or swallowing

• rapid, excessive weight loss

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine.

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