Furosemide (Injection)

Generic name: Furosemide
Drug class: Loop diuretics

Usage of Furosemide (Injection)

Furosemide injection is used to help treat fluid retention (edema) and swelling that is caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease (cirrhosis), kidney disease, or other medical conditions.

Furosemide injection is also used to treat congestion (blockage) caused by excess amount of fluid in patients with chronic heart failure.

Furosemide belongs to a group of medicines called loop diuretics or "water pills". It works by acting on the kidneys to increase the flow of urine.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Furosemide (Injection) side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Chest pain or tightness

chills

cough or hoarseness

fever

general feeling of tiredness or weakness

headache

lower back or side pain

painful or difficult urination

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

swollen or painful glands

trouble breathing

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Back or leg pains

black, tarry stools

bladder spasm

bleeding gums

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloody or cloudy urine

blurred vision

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

clay-colored stools

cold sweats

confusion

constipation

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears

coughing up blood

diarrhea

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position

dry mouth

fast heartbeat

fever with or without chills

flushed, dry skin

fruit-like breath odor

hearing loss

increased hunger or thirst

increased or decreased urination

indigestion

itching

joint stiffness or swelling

loss of appetite

nausea or vomiting

nosebleeds

pain where a shot was given

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

red, irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

scaly skin

skin rash

sweating

swelling of the feet or lower legs

swollen glands

unpleasant breath odor

unusual weight loss

yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

hives or welts

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

muscle spasm

redness or other discoloration of the skin

restlessness

sensation of spinning

severe sunburn

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Furosemide (Injection)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of furosemide injection to treat fluid retention and swelling in children. However, premature babies are more likely to have unwanted effects (eg, kidney stones, hearing problems), which may require caution in patients receiving furosemide injection.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of furosemide injection to treat congestion caused by excess amount of fluid in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of furosemide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving furosemide injection.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Desmopressin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acarbose

Aceclofenac

Acemetacin

Albiglutide

Albuterol

Alogliptin

Amikacin

Amikacin Liposome

Amtolmetin Guacil

Arsenic Trioxide

Aspirin

Azilsartan

Azilsartan Medoxomil

Balsalazide

Benazepril

Bepridil

Bismuth Subsalicylate

Bufexamac

Cefepime

Ceftazidime

Celecoxib

Chloral Hydrate

Chlorpropamide

Choline Salicylate

Cisplatin

Clonixin

Codeine

Dapagliflozin

Dasabuvir

Dexibuprofen

Dexketoprofen

Dichlorphenamide

Diclofenac

Diflunisal

Digitoxin

Dipyrone

Dofetilide

Droperidol

Droxicam

Dulaglutide

Empagliflozin

Enalapril

Enalaprilat

Eprosartan

Ethacrynic Acid

Etodolac

Etofenamate

Etoricoxib

Exenatide

Felbinac

Fenoprofen

Fepradinol

Feprazone

Fexinidazole

Floctafenine

Flufenamic Acid

Flurbiprofen

Formoterol

Foscarnet

Fosinopril

Gentamicin

Glimepiride

Glipizide

Glyburide

Ibuprofen

Indomethacin

Insulin

Insulin Aspart, Recombinant

Insulin Bovine

Insulin Degludec

Insulin Detemir

Insulin Glulisine

Irbesartan

Kanamycin

Ketanserin

Ketoprofen

Ketorolac

Leflunomide

Levomethadyl

Levothyroxine

Linagliptin

Liothyronine

Liraglutide

Lisinopril

Lithium

Lixisenatide

Lornoxicam

Losartan

Loxoprofen

Lumiracoxib

Meclofenamate

Mefenamic Acid

Meloxicam

Mesalamine

Methotrexate

Metolazone

Miglitol

Moexipril

Morniflumate

Nabumetone

Naproxen

Nateglinide

Neomycin

Nepafenac

Netilmicin

Niflumic Acid

Nimesulide

Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin

Nitisinone

Norepinephrine

Olmesartan

Olsalazine

Oxaprozin

Oxyphenbutazone

Parecoxib

Paromomycin

Perindopril

Phenylbutazone

Piketoprofen

Pioglitazone

Piroxicam

Plazomicin

Pramlintide

Proglumetacin

Propyphenazone

Proquazone

Quinapril

Ramipril

Repaglinide

Rofecoxib

Rosiglitazone

Salicylic Acid

Salsalate

Saxagliptin

Sitagliptin

Sodium Salicylate

Sotalol

Spectinomycin

Streptomycin

Sulfasalazine

Sulindac

Tapentadol

Telmisartan

Tenoxicam

Teriflunomide

Tiaprofenic Acid

Tobramycin

Tolazamide

Tolbutamide

Tolfenamic Acid

Tolmetin

Trandolapril

Trolamine Salicylate

Valdecoxib

Valsartan

Vildagliptin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Aliskiren

Carbamazepine

Cephaloridine

Clofibrate

Cyclosporine

Dibekacin

Fludrocortisone

Germanium

Ginseng

Gossypol

Licorice

Pancuronium

Tubocurarine

Vecuronium

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Relate drugs

How to use Furosemide (Injection)

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins, or as a shot into a muscle or under your skin, usually in the stomach area.

Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you or your child to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

You or your caregiver may be trained to prepare and apply the medicine at home. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

To use the prefilled cartridge with the single-use on-body infusor:

Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.

You will be shown the body areas where the on-body infusor can be worn. Use a different body area each time you wear the infusor. Keep track of the application site to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not apply into areas where the skin is bruised, hardened, irritated, red, tender, or broken.

Do not apply lotions oils, or ointments to the stomach area. Avoid putting the on-body infusor where belts, waistbands, or other types of clothing that may rub against, disturb, or dislodge. Application site should be hairless or nearly hairless. You may shave the skin or cut the hair.

Check the liquid in the prefilled cartridge. It should be clear to slightly yellow. Do not use the cartridge if the liquid is cloudy or discolored.

Do not use if the packaging is opened, dropped, broken, or damaged. Do not use the medicine within 12 inches of mobile phones, tablets, computers, or wireless devices (eg, TV remote control, bluetooth keyboard or mouse).

Do not touch the blue start button until the on-body infusor is on the skin. Do not touch or fully open the cartridge holder until you are ready. Do not remove until the injection is complete (indicator turns solid green light, beeping sound, and white plunger rod filling the window).

Do not shower, bathe, swim, or exercise that will make you sweat while wearing the on-body infusor. Allow the medicine to deliver for at least 5 hours.

If the on-body infusor falls off, call your doctor right away. Do not reapply or reuse it. Do not apply new on-body infusor unless your doctor tells you to.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For injectable dosage form (prefilled cartridge):

For congestion caused by excess amount of fluid:

Adults—30 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin for the first hour, followed by 12.5 mg per hour for 4 hours. Each cartridge contains 80 mg furosemide. The amount of medicine delivered is pre-programmed with a single-use on-body infusor.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep the medicine in its original carton until you are ready to use it. Protect it from light.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check you or your child closely while you are receiving this medicine. This is to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause you or your child to lose more potassium from your body than normal (hypokalemia). This is more likely to occur if you have liver disease (eg, cirrhosis), or if you are using this medicine together with steroids (cortisone-like medicines), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), large amounts of licorice, or laxatives for a long time. Tell your doctor if you become sick with severe or continuing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, and drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated. Check with your doctor right away if you have dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, or nausea or vomiting.

This medicine may cause hearing problems. Chek with your doctor right away if you have continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears, dizziness, feeling of fullness in the ears, hearing loss, loss of balance, or trouble hearing.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If the problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you or your child are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen, hat, and protective clothing when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This especially includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.