Get Informed: Lasix

49

Patient Comments about
Lasix

Active Ingredient(s)

Furosemide

What does it do?

Lasix

This product is primarily used for the treatment of edema associated with heart failure, liver failure and kidney disease, as well as in the treatment of high blood pressure. It increases excretion of sodium, chloride and water by the kidney.

Last Text Update:
 2009-Nov-20 8:09 PM
Last Data Update:
 2009-Nov-20 6:52 PM

Other Names

  • Lasix
  • Furosemide
  • Lasix High Dose

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2: General
Pregnancy Category:
C

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box warning relating to its need for tight dose control.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
01 Jul 1966
Est US Patients*
2,874,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

1

< 21

3

21-39

31

40-59

66

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Lasix or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Lasix

Lasix Safety Report

2: General

The iGuard risk rating for Lasix is blue. It means that Lasix normally has a low risk of serious or long-term side effects if used under normal medical supervision.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Lasix interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Lasix used for?

iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 16,800 patients that use Lasix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Swollen Legs / Calves 51% 5
Heart Failure / Edema 43% 5
High Blood Pressure 38% 5
Cardiomyopathy 4% 5
Kidney Transplant 3% 6
Lymphedema 2% 7
Other 5% 5

How well does Lasix work?

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 16,800 users taking Lasix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

61 64
71%
of patients are confident that the good things about Lasix outweigh the bad things.
20%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Lasix.

Common Side Effects of Lasix

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 16,800 users taking Lasix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

31%

31% of patients experience side-effects on Lasix

4%

4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Lasix


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 5% Frequent Urination
  • 5% Muscle Pain/Stiffness
  • 5% Dizziness
  • 5% Bladder/Urinary Problems
  • 5% Dryness
  • 5% Fatigue
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Blurred Vision, Dehydration, Diarrhea, Drowsiness, Dry Mouth, Electrolyte Problems, Insomnia, Kidney Problems, Loose Stool, Low Blood Pressure, Mental Haziness, Nausea, Swelling/Edema


Global Patient Feedback for Lasix (Furosemide) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first

Question/Comment:

not only having extreme urgency for bathroom calls when taking furosimide (lasix), i read the side effects of this drug. i was in er once for side effects of a different diuretic drug and had acute pancreatitis. my doctor said this was a side affect of the diuretic drug i was taking. so... now i read it is also a side effect of furosimide too. what shall i do? i take it for high bp along with metoprolol and exforge which all keeps my bp around 120/80.

70 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-22 11:23:21

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Furosemide can possibly cause acute pancreatitis, however it is relatively rare compared to the number of patients who do not experience this side effect. The fact that you have a prior history is more concerning and you should discuss this with your doctor in order to determine benefit versus risk for continuing therapy.

Posted: 2009-09-22 22:54:11

Question/Comment:

I also take Furosemide (lasix) for my high b/p plus exforge and metoprolo. my bp stays under 120/80 most of the time but the furosemide when i take it in the am makes me rush to urinate atleast 3-4 times every half hour before noon. I am like the woman in the ad on the bus and "gotta go" has become my motto also. The rest of the day just seems normal and i have no problems then. I asked my dr. for detrol to assist my urgency but it didn't help so i quit taking it. When i go somewhere in the am where I have no place to "go", i just don't take that pill before i leave home and don't catch up by taking it the rest of the day. I am wondering what kind of damage I am doing by not taking it sometimes.

70 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-21 16:30:39

Answer/Reply:

i have chronic copd and with that CHF so when I get edema I take the lasix and potassium, just found out it interacts with foridal. so learned something here. Will keep eye on potassium levels. Anyway I dont take lasix everyday for the edema. Only when i have it or if I weigh more than 2-3 pounds on awakening and after the bathroom. I have a journal on my meds and write down stuff.59 yr old gal

60 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-26 19:53:17

Question/Comment:

My Rx meds have been reduced from 7 to 5. Many have the same side effects, so I've never known which, if any, caused any of them. I have dry mouth, sometimes needing a sip of water every 15 minutes
I have frequent urination, including bad leakage w/o urge.; diagnosed with non-cancerous bladder growth. Three meds supposedly treating this, now reduced to 2
I have chronic diarrhea, supposedly from artificial sweeteners for diabetes. When a specialist suggested I ask my primary Dr. if he could test for other possible cause, he got offended and his only response was, "Which specialist said that?" Otherwise, he seems to be a very good Dr.; I don't want to change.
I have dizziness and loss of balance, now w/o dizziness, and when not doing anything like navigating around obstacles; just walking straight or even standing still. When I fall, I often skin my leg. I forgot to mention this when I saw my primary Dr. last week and my next Appt. is not for 4 months; should I call him?
I probably have other possible side effects I can't remember right now. Memory loss is anothe extremely frustrating problem I have!

81 year old Male

Posted: 2009-09-08 11:55:11

Question/Comment:

I take Furosemide for water that for some reason collects in my lungs. Its worst when the weather's damp or quickly changing. In the mid-west that often happens. When I take my 20mg, I do go to the bathroom a lot. But after 3 or 4 times, the heaviness lifts from my chest and I can breathe again. It does cause severe sweating and sometimes weakness. If I take it too many days in a row it gives me a bad dry mouth. All in all, I am VERY thankful for this med. It has practically revolutionized my life. There are times I feel like I'm litterally drowning on the inside. Sometimes I feel like the grace of God has brought this drug into my life to eleviate much suffering. I do hope the above party will seek out the $4 programs at Walmart, etc because water retention is nothing to play with. My best friend lost her life from procrastinating and not taking care of her congestive heart failure. By time she got serious and out of denial, her lil body just didnt bounce back. So Please! Do not play around with your health.

41 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-04 21:11:21

Question/Comment:

I am on Furosimide and am not real sure what it is for. I have been diagnosed with high triglycerides of 800. This was a few years ago and I take 20mg a day of this. No one has since checked my tryglycerides or run any other blood tests. I am coming off all of my meds right now. I am unable to afford the visits to the doctor or the medication, therefore I had to tell the pharmacy to discontinue each med once it ran out. Life is a bit out of wack and this will be the last medicine stopped.

I have been told I have peripheral neuropathy and with this pain I have been unable to work. This is why I had to make this choice. I get to be in charge of my medication and can say when enough is enough.

56 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-22 11:15:00

Answer/Reply:

Furosimide (Lasix) is a diuretic. Have you had any trouble with swelling in your feet/ankles. When you retain water docs prescribe lasix to pull the water back into your vascular space so that your body can excrete it through your kidneys to your urine. Do you go to the bathroom a ton? This is why. Ask your doctor before you stop lasix, he/she may have you on this because of heart problems. Too much volume (fluid) can be caused by or cause problems with your heart and or kidneys. Lasix is one medication that you can get for $4.00 at pharmacies that have $4.00 prescriptions. It is in your best interest to keep this one up.

Good luck,
K

36 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-26 17:08:34

Answer/Reply:

Furosimide is for fluid retention, as well as to help out for hypertension. With your triglycerides being so high it effects your blood pressure. I am on 40mg. Furosimide daily - on a bad day it goes up to 80mg. I am a 39 year old female. I have been on this medicine for over 2 years. You have to be the one that insists on things - you are your own best advocate, but I dont agree with your last comments. I only hope your decisions don't cost you your life. I have hypertension -high blood pressure, as well as pernicious anemia,vitamin D deficiency, alpha one antitrypsin deficiency,and COPD. I have all these due to congestive heart failure because of my stubbornish attitude. I am stuck on 6 prescriptions and oxygen at night for the rest of my life. The situation would have been better if I had just gotten a new doctor earlier. I now have one regular physician and 12 specialist. I do work full time, and I am happily married with one teenage son, so I can relate to your pain. My advise to you is not just so I can talk out my bottom. I would not wish my situation on any one. Frustration is in my life too - along with pain. I have had that life or death situation. This diagnosis you have isnt something to get over by yourself. Check out www.nih.gov - research your symptoms and diagnosis before you go off everything. If you can only get help from the hospital - do so -ask for all generic medicines. Bills are going to come but as long as you make a $5.00 per month payment its going to be ok. Think of all those you care about and who cares about you....Is your being in charge of everything worth dying over? Furosimide is a medicine that is generic for Lasix, and it is not a medicine you abruptly stop - or you may notice worse problems. I am not just the 800 lb. gorilla in this website - I am someone who cares!

38 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-27 18:31:39

Answer/Reply:

Furosimide is for fluid retention, as well as to help out for hypertension. With your triglycerides being so high it effects your blood pressure. I am on 40mg. Furosimide daily - on a bad day it goes up to 80mg. I am a 39 year old female. I have been on this medicine for over 2 years. You have to be the one that insists on things - you are your own best advocate, but I dont agree with your last comments. I only hope your decisions don't cost you your life. I have hypertension -high blood pressure, as well as pernicious anemia,vitamin D deficiency, alpha one antitrypsin deficiency,and COPD. I have all these due to congestive heart failure because of my stubbornish attitude. I am stuck on 6 prescriptions and oxygen at night for the rest of my life. The situation would have been better if I had just gotten a new doctor earlier. I now have one regular physician and 12 specialist. I do work full time, and I am happily married with one teenage son, so I can relate to your pain. My advise to you is not just so I can talk out my bottom. I would not wish my situation on any one. Frustration is in my life too - along with pain. I have had that life or death situation. This diagnosis you have isnt something to get over by yourself. Check out www.nih.gov - research your symptoms and diagnosis before you go off everything. If you can only get help from the hospital - do so -ask for all generic medicines. Bills are going to come but as long as you make a $5.00 per month payment its going to be ok. Think of all those you care about and who cares about you....Is your being in charge of everything worth dying over? Furosimide is a medicine that is generic for Lasix, and it is not a medicine you abruptly stop - or you may notice worse problems. I am not just the 800 lb. gorilla in this website - I am someone who cares!

38 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-27 18:32:58

Answer/Reply:

Last year I had a reading of 656 for my triglycerides. Within 6 weeks it was down to 207. I did this by eating a lot of Cheerios and Quaker Oats Weight Off for breakfast. I also avoided most sweets, fried foods and bread. You CAN drink unsweetened ice tea and black coffee. I hardly ever drank sodas so this was no problem for me. As a side effect I also lost about 25 lbs. If I craved something sweet I would go to my freezer and get no more than 2 (two) dark chocolate kisses, once a day. I didn't keep them by my bedside (too close for comfort). I would usually eat these at night. As a result of this my cholesterol also came down. 76 year old female

76 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-28 14:55:46

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