Get Informed: Lasix
Active Ingredient(s)
Furosemide
What does it do?
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:
- 2010-Mar-13 3:08 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-12 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Lasix
- Furosemide
- Lasix High Dose
- Frusol
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- 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*
- 2,704,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
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.
Lasix Safety Report
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 is currently tracking more than 17,900 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Failure/Edema | 82% | 
|
| High Blood Pressure | 39% |
|
| Kidney Transplant | 2% | 
|
| Other | 6% |
|
How well does Lasix work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 17,900 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)
- 75%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Lasix outweigh the bad things.
- 14%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Lasix.
Common Side Effects of Lasix
iGuard regularly polls our more than 17,900 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.
29% of patients experience side-effects on Lasix
3% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Lasix
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Urinary Frequency
-
Dryness
-
Muscle Pain/Cramps
-
Dizziness
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdo Pain/Cramps, Diarrhea, Drowsiness, Electrolyte Problems, Gout, Grogginess/Confusion, Insomnia, Kidney Problems, Nausea/Vomiting, Numbness/Tingling, Palpitations, Postural Hypotension, Swelling/Edema, Vision Changes
Global Patient Feedback for Lasix (Furosemide) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
What's this about increased risk of complications from my liver problems? My gastro doctor put me on furosimide and spironolactone to see if they had an effect on the swelling in my ankles.
59 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-24 00:54:25
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Both furosemide and spironolactone can possibly cause liver issues, but it is not common. Many patients take these medications with no adverse reactions. Over 70% of iGuard patients feel that the benefits of both of these medications outweigh the negative effects.
Posted: 2010-02-26 11:17:10
Question/Comment:
watch your electrolites and potasium, could overload your heart if they are too low and more so for older persons.
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-25 01:33:23
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 – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-22 11:23:21
iGuard 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 – Source: iGuard United States
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 – Source: iGuard United States
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 – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-08 11:55:11
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Patient Comments about
Lasix