Drug allergy - Furosemide

Furosemide is a diuretic, a medication that helps the body to excrete excess of fluid. Because of this characteristic furosemide is prescribed to people suffering from congestive heart failure, liver disease and some kidney disorders. Hypertension is one more indication for furosemide.

What to Know about Taking Furosemide

Furosemide is never taken if a person cannot urinate. As a matter of fact, patients are due to inform their doctor about all conditions they are and have been suffering from, especially kidney and liver disease, gout, lupus, diabetes and allergy to sulfa drugs, because they are not suitable candidates for furosemide.

Blood, kidney and liver test are obligatory throughout treatment with furosemide.

The person will be fully informed about whether he/she needs to increase intake of potassium.

Furosemide may easily cause dehydration and once it is taken, patients are due to take sufficient amounts of water to prevent this side effect.Contraindications

Furosemide is rarely prescribed to people who are suffering from certain kidney diseases, liver disease, gout, lupus, diabetes and to individuals suffering from sulfa allergy. If doctor chooses to prescribe the drug to some of the mentioned patients, he/she must make dose adjustments and patients undergo special tests. Only in individuals suffering from sulfa allergy furosemide is completely forbidden.

As far as pregnant women are concerned, furosemide belongs to FDA pregnancy category C. Category C means that it is not clear whether the drug can cause damage to the baby. This is why doctors avoid prescribing furosemide to pregnant woman. Since the drug passes into breast milk, it is also contraindicated while breastfeeding.

Furosemide - Side Effects

Furosemide can cause serious allergic reactions including hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat. The drug must be, in such case, immediately discontinued and one is supposed to seek medical help instantly.

Other not so dramatic side effects of furosemide include dry mouth, nausea and vomiting. There is also diarrhea, constipation and sometimes stomach pain. Headache, dizziness and blurred vision may occur as well.

More serious side effects associated with furosemide are palpitations, red, blistering and peeling skin rash, hearing loss and jaundice.Furosemide Drug Interactions

It is essential to pay attention if taking certain drugs with furosemide. Some medications may increase the amount of furosemide in the blood and there are also drugs that reduce the amount of furosemide in the blood.

Some of the mentioned occurs when furosemide is taken together with lithium, digoxin, steroids, ethacrynic acid, diet pills, some blood pressure medications, some antibiotics, salicylates, Indomethacin and cold medications.

There are many more medications which interact with furosemide and all of them must be reported because if combined with furosemide, these drugs may cause serious health problems.