Furosemide - Instructions For Use

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Furosemide - instructions for use

The drug Furosemide belongs to the pharmacological group of diuretics (diuretics). In the pharmacy chain, you can find Furosemide produced by Russian, Belarusian and Indian pharmaceutical companies. The drug is available in the form of tablets and injection solution.

Composition of tablets:

• The active substance is Furosemide;
• Potato starch;
• Lactose;
• Gelatin;
• Povidone;
• Talc;
• Magnesium stearate;
• Silica.

Content:

• Indications for use
• Contraindications for use
• Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
• Side effects
• Drug dosage

Indications for use

Furosemide is prescribed for the following diseases and conditions:

• Edema of any origin (kidney pathology, pulmonary edema, stage 2 and 3 heart failure, liver cirrhosis);
• Hypertensive crisis;
• Cerebral edema;
• Eclampsia;
• Arterial hypertension in severe form;
• Hypercalcemia;
• Poisoning with chemicals - diuresis.

The drug has the ability to reduce blood pressure as quickly as possible, reducing the load on the heart in a hypertensive crisis.

Contraindications for use

• Acute renal and hepatic failure;
• Predcoma and coma (hepatic, hyperglycemic);
• Kidney stone disease in active form;
• Urethral stenosis;
• Gout;
• Pancreatitis;
• Acute myocardial infarction;
• Systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Intoxication with cardiac glycosides;
• Mitral valve stenosis;
• Lactation and pregnancy;
• Age up to 3 years;
• Lactose intolerance;
• Increased intolerance to the components of furosemide;
• Cardiomyopathy;
• Water-electrolyte metabolism disorders - low levels of calcium, chlorine and magnesium.

Furosemide is used with caution in the following conditions:

• Hyperplasia of the prostate;
• Diabetes;
• Atherosclerosis;
• Hypotension;
• Narrowing of the urethra;
• Diarrhea;
• Ventricular arrhythmia;
• Decreased hearing.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

The action of Furosemide appears 20-30 minutes after ingestion, lasts 3-6 hours, reaching a maximum after 1-2 hours. The drug has a high absorbing capacity, from 60 to 70% of the received drug enters the circulatory system. Furosemide passes into breast milk, is able to overcome the placental barrier. Biological transformation takes place in the liver. It is excreted from the body in the urine (88%), the rest through the digestive tract (12%).

The drug disrupts the absorption of sodium and chlorine ions in the nephrons of the kidneys, stimulates the excretion of calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates and phosphates. After taking Furosemide, the tone of the veins, the volume of circulating blood, as well as the volume of fluid filling the intercellular space, decrease.

Side effects

The ability of the drug to remove toxic substances from the body in the shortest possible time has led to the fact that Furosemide is equated to doping and is prohibited for use in the sports community. Active excretion of sodium and potassium from the body leads to bradycardia and tachycardia, increased toxicity of digitalis drugs.

Side effects of Furosemide:

• Cardiac arrhythmias, collapse, orthostatic and arterial hypotension;
• Dysfunction of the nervous system (drowsiness, apathy, headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion, muscle weakness);
• Digestive system disorders (alternating diarrhea and constipation, anorexia, dryness of the oral mucosa, nausea, vomiting);
• Violations of the genitourinary system (impotence, hematuria, oliguria, urinary retention);

• Skin and allergic manifestations (urticaria, dermatitis, erythema, anaphylactic shock, photosensitivity);
• Disorders of water and electrolyte metabolism (dehydration, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, metabolic acidosis);

Drug dosage

The tablets are taken on an empty stomach with water (150-200 ml), without chewing. Initial doses of the drug are recommended to be used as low as possible to achieve a therapeutic effect.

Dosage:

• Treatment of moderate edema in adults - 1/2 - 1 tablet;
• Treatment of severe edema - 2-3 tablets once, or 3-4 tablets in 2 divided doses;
• Treatment of children - 1-2 mg of the drug per kg / day (maximum 6 mg / kg / day);
• Treatment of arterial hypertension - 1 / 2-3 tablets per day.

The effectiveness of Furosemide for weight loss is due to its ability to remove fluid from the intercellular space from the body. A diuretic cannot change adipose tissue, reducing it in problem areas.

When treating with Furosemide, you should carefully monitor the level of calcium in the body, the content of uric acid, nitrogen, creatinine. During treatment with the drug, it is undesirable to engage in activities that require a quick reaction and increased attention.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).