Furosemide
Also sold as: Lasix
Usual adult dose
Usual adult dose for swelling (oedema): 20 to 40 mg once a day in the morning, adjusted by your doctor. Higher doses are used in kidney or heart failure. Injection is given in hospital.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- passing a lot of urine
- dizziness
- thirst
- muscle cramps
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- dehydration
- very low potassium (weakness
- irregular heartbeat)
- hearing loss or ringing in the ears (high doses)
- severe skin rash
Do not take it, or take care, if
- No urine production
- Severe dehydration or very low sodium or potassium
- Liver failure with confusion
- Gout or diabetes (use with caution)
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious3 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Amikacin
Together they raise the risk of permanent hearing loss and kidney damage.
- Gentamicin
Together they raise the risk of hearing damage and kidney damage.
- Streptomycin
Together they raise the risk of permanent hearing loss and kidney damage.
Moderate10 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Dapagliflozin
Together they increase urine loss and can cause dehydration and low blood pressure.
- Digoxin
Low potassium from furosemide raises the risk of digoxin toxicity.
- Empagliflozin
Together they increase urine loss and can cause dehydration and low blood pressure.
- Hydrocortisone
Both can lower potassium; potassium levels may need checking.
- Ibuprofen
NSAIDs reduce the effect of furosemide and can harm the kidneys.
- Indometacin
Can weaken the effect of the water tablet and strain the kidneys.
Show 4 more
- Lithium carbonate
Furosemide can raise lithium levels.
- Naproxen
Can weaken the effect of the water tablet and strain the kidneys.
- Prednisolone
Both can lower potassium; potassium levels may need checking.
- Salbutamol
Both can lower potassium; levels should be checked with regular high doses.