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Generic name : Furosemide
Brand name : Lasix, Disal, and Salix . Also called frusemide.
For human use : Lasix® (Hoechst Marion Roussel) and various generics
For animal use : Lasix® (Hoechst), Diuride® (Anthony) and various generics
Furosemide is a water pills medically called loop diuretics which works around kidney which is called Henle’s loop. If for some reason sodium and water occurs (edema) filling the lungs (pulmonary edema leading to congestive heart failure) and body cavities (edema leading to swelling of body), then heart failure may occur. Pulmonary arteries carry oxygen to the heart to purify the blood. Instead, the water congestion occurs, probably reducing the chances of the oxygen to do its bit.
Reason for such condition may be as varied as liver dysfunction, kidney failure. What happens is salts like sodium, potassium and calcium are not absorbed resulting in higher urine formation which now contains unabsorbed salts.
Salts are essential to retain energy otherwise dehydration of the body will occur making one vulnerable to sunstroke at the slightest exposure. Body swelling is another symptom when excessive formation of urine happens.
Furosemide can be taken with the prescription of a doctor. It can be used for a pet also. In case of false pregnancy of a pet, the excessive mammary tissues can cause a lot of nuisance to the owner as much as the animal. The administration of this drug will bring the matter under control.
Also sometimes the kidney poses dire condition like shutting down the system of urine production which calls for an emergency wherein the administration of this drug is necessary.
In case of horses, due to high potassium level in blood after heavy exercise nose bleed occurs which can be controlled with Furosemide.
Warning precautions, overdose
Do not use on a patient who is already dehydrated in case of a heart problem.
As a result of the drug, the body potassium may go too down, which causes lethargy and weakness. The doctor should be immediately informed.
When calcium excretion is increased, there may not be imbalance of water and calcium that should get excreted. Loss of water will result in the formation of calcium oxalate, which is commonly known as bladder stone.
Overdose seldom occurs. But ordinarily it occurs if 100 doses are taken. It is a life saving drug. Only the doctor should know when to administer the next dose.
Water soluble vitamins may also get eliminated out of the system as a result of this drug in which case the patient has to take vitamin supplements.
Sports people should better keep away from this drug because it is listed in the banned drugs category.
How to take
It has oral solutions variety along with a interjectible type.
With Furosemide use, potassium in blood may decrease resulting in faulty heart rhythms. So it should be taken along with digitalis derivatives.
To maintain calcium level in the body, furosemide is often used in combination with prednisone.
Aminoglycoside antibiotics (amikacin, gentamicin etc.) with furosemide can be highly toxic to the ear and to the kidney.
It takes about 1-2 hours to take effect.
Side effects
All diuretics including furosemide cause increased thirst and excessive urination. To avoid bed wetting, one should take the medicine long before going to bed, preferably in the afternoon.
Blood sugar per unit of water gets higher. For a diabetic person, the drug can not be furosemide definitely. The person who is under the medication of this drug, should choose to take less carbohydrate and sugar to avoid more sugar accumulation just in case.. Fat also get broken into a form of sugar ultimately. It can be safely conclude that a furosemide makes one behave like a diabetic patient.
Crisis with cats may lead to extra interjecting of lasix which my cause hearing loss in them, don’t confuse with the ordinary cat like nonchalance.
Urination occurs within 30 minutes, so please be prepared for that.
When the body water level goes down, blood circulation decreases. This results in less blood flow to the kidney. In case of heart medication, a vasolidator that causes less blood flow should then be delayed, otherwise kidney failure will occur.
How to store
No use of storing it at home. Simply because other than a doctor, nobody should try it on his/her own. The doctor can store it at a dry place preferably at a place where the temperature is just enough.
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