Lasix: Uses, Side Effects, Warnings, and Dosing Information

Generic Name: Lasix (furosemide)

Lasix Reviews

For Edema "Bilateral edema knees to toes. Dr. put me on 1 x a day 20 mg Lasix. Didn't work at all. Then put me on 2 x a day 20 mg Lasix. Might work a little, however, the problem is that 2 x a day of 20 mg Lasix does not mean you have a dose of 40 mg Lasix - you just have 2, 20 mg doses. So, I started taking two 20 mg at the same time to get a 40 mg dose and now my swelling is slowly going down. Dosage is important."


For Edema "Lasix (a potassium-depleting drug) made me pee a lot, but didn't do much to decrease swelling. Then I started taking spironolactone (a potassium-sparing drug) and almost overnight I lost almost 10 pounds of excess water. I think the Lasix depleted too much potassium, causing too much retention of sodium (which in turn caused water retention). Note: My diet all along has been low sodium."


For Edema "I have been on Lasix for about a year. I think it's amazing! It does make my blood pressure a little low, and I've had problems with my potassium levels, but it's worth it for how well it works. I ran out of my medicine and couldn't fill my script yet. So I was without it for a week. I had severe edema. I mean I could barely climb stairs or take the one step on the porch without almost falling. Got my script and the water was just falling away like magic."


For Edema "I started taking this medication when I was in my early 20s for edema. I take 80 mg a day for 20 years now. If I miss a day, I go up about 12 lbs on the scale. This medication has worked wonders for me, but it is hard to take if you need to leave the house. I can pee up to 20 times in 4 hours. Other than the inconvenience, it is a fantastic medication for me."


For Edema "So I came into the hospital on a Thursday evening for shortness of breath, and two weeks later I'm being treated for edema. I weighed 636 lb when I was admitted. Today I weigh just north of 500. 136 lbs gone just from fluid my body was storing due to my diagnosed CHF. Most of the weight came off during my 2nd week on the Lasix IV drip. We have been going slow so that I don't get cramps and the doctor is doing blood work every morning at 4 am."


For Edema "I started taking Furosemide yesterday for swelling in my feet and ankles. Right after taking it, I had to make a 100-mile drive and ended up stopping 5 times en route to pee. The swelling has already decreased a lot, and I am able to walk again without pain. I had pretty bad nausea after both doses. I am taking 40 mg once a day. I had to call in sick today as the nausea was causing vomiting. I'll try taking it after work. I went back to bed after calling in sick today, and my cat that always sleeps on me was quite annoyed at trips to the bathroom every 10 minutes."


For Edema "I have a genetic condition called Venous Insufficiency, which doesn't allow the blood & fluid to be returned from my lower legs & feet, so they swell and the skin can start to break down, which opens up the opportunity for infection. Have been taking Furosemide 40mg 1x day for over a year now - it is the only thing that keeps me from being in the hospital all the time with infections that require IV antibiotics. The only side effects I've noticed are the very frequent urination (not really a side effect, it's what the drug is *supposed* to do, as it flushes fluids out of the body), and aching in my legs and feet as the fluid leaves - I can only assume that is caused by my body trying to push the fluid out."


For Edema "I was prescribed the generic form of Lasix a few days ago for severe peripheral edema. The doctor had me taking 20 mg twice a day for three days and now I'm taking 20 mg. So far, I have noticed only a subtle difference/improvement in the major swelling of my feet, ankles, legs, and abdomen. I am experiencing an increase in frequency of urination, as others have described, but it doesn't seem like I'm voiding enough, which may be why I am still so swollen. It has been only four days on Lasix and I am in terrible pain. Hopefully, the swelling will subside or at least decrease, otherwise, I will be contacting the MD for advice. I have also experienced headaches daily since I began the medication. I have been extremely dizzy as well."


For Edema "My cardiologist put me on Lasix over a month ago due to edema of the legs and ankles. My rate of urination was about every 45 minutes, nowhere as bad as some of the reviewers. I refilled my prescription and noticed an immediate change. Instead of every 45 minutes, it changed to every hour and a half. The only difference is the manufacturer. The Lasix made by Sandoz seems to work fine."


For Edema "I was put on the med and I became extremely confused (couldn't even remember what house I lived in) and I was at home. So weak I could hardly get out of bed. 3 weeks later I was changed to hydrochlorothiazide for 2 weeks with the same effect, just not quite so severe. I quit all this type of med and within 24 hours I could tell a difference. I even did some grocery shopping today. The first time in 6 weeks I was exhausted to say the least but at least I was able to do it. No, I didn't carry them in, nor have to put them away. But I was able to do it. I can't wait to see the progress tomorrow. So in conclusion, BE CAREFUL."


For Edema "I have severe Lymphedema and venous edema with pitting. I made the mistake of taking the medicine at night and was up urinating every 30-40 minutes in large quantities all night. This medicine made me extremely thirsty, so you have to be sure to drink plenty of water when taking this medicine."


For Edema "I've been taking Lasix for about 10 years for swelling in my feet/ankles. I only have one kidney and have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I take 80 mg in the morning. It does not always take all the swelling out, but if I miss just one dose, I can tell it by the afternoon. Of course, if I take it in the afternoon, I'm up all night. NOTE: There IS a difference in taking the Lasix as opposed to the generic furosemide. For me, the generic is absolutely useless. My mother had the same problem, so maybe it's genetic. I've taken as much as 200 mg of generic at one time with no effect whatsoever. I've noticed no side effects from the Lasix."


For Edema "Been on these Lasix pills for 5 days, and I will not take them anymore. I am in the bathroom every few minutes. Sometimes, I just sit on the toilet because I know in a few minutes I will have to go again. I will not live this way."


For Edema "I really had edema all over my body (i.e. face, hands, feet), but especially on my legs! I went to my doctor and she prescribed this medication to me, it's working like magic! I take it in the morning as soon as I wake up. I noticed it's more effective when taken on an empty stomach, then after breakfast, and so on. I had to deal with some headaches (minor), but it was definitely worth it!"


For Edema "Dr. has me back on Lasix again for edema and will try another round. The first round was 20 mg. X 2 for 6 mo.s (damn, I was patient) for the swelling in my feet. I was weeing a lot, but it didn't hardly reduce the swelling. I've also noticed a significant increase in the cravings for potassium-laden food, so I believe it HAS drained me of that! Will try to get Doc to increase it to 40 mg all at once, as other reviewers have stated that 20 mg is not enough... and it sure hasn't been for me."


For Edema "I developed idiopathic (so far my docs are clueless) systemic inflammation over the course of 2 weeks or so. Plus, hypertensive crisis (202/110), never had BP problems before. I’m 5’5 and 120 lbs, but I looked like the Michelin Man after eating the Pillsbury Doughboy. Doc prescribed Lasix, wonder drug! Peed like a horse for 2 days, almost back to normal. Unfortunately, however, the inflammation seems to have damaged my epidermis. My skin from knees on up to my chest looks like I vomited cottage cheese over it. :("


For High Blood Pressure "I was taking Lasix twice a day, one in the morning, one at night. I had bad side effects on it. Asked my doctor to take me off it, she wouldn't, said I needed it for heart failure. I told her I didn't care about my heart, the Lasix was conflicting with some other meds I was taking, plus I wanted off it, causing me a lot of side effects. What did she do? She terminated me, told me I could find another doctor. So I don't have a doctor now."


For Edema "It's very important to read the side effects of all the medicines that your doctor prescribes to you. Sometimes the side effects are a bigger problem than the original problem you were trying to treat. This was true in my case with Furosemide where the blurred vision, loud ringing in the ears, and a bright red flaky face rash were unbearable. But that's not to say that everyone will suffer side effects."


For Edema "I have had pitting edema, severe water retention all over my body mainly my face, hands, ankles, feet, and lower legs. I also have felt the side effects of side aches and leg discomfort. But I have come to find out I also suffered from RLS (restless leg syndrome). I do suffer from very minor headaches. But when one day you are swollen as a balloon and about 2 to 3 days later you are unswollen. I first started out on 10 mg as needed, then had to go up to 20mg when required, then daily. Then eventually kept raising it by 20 after that to 40mg daily. Then I ended up having to take 2 x 40 mg daily, 2 x a day. I also have insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome so that may have something to do with it. I'm now at 80mg daily."


For Edema "Much foot and leg swelling. Just finished 9 days of hospitalization for pneumonia. Took steroids for several days after discharge. As I quit the steroid, swelling started, so I ended up starting Lasix. Urination every 2 hours. I have high blood pressure. Atrial fibrillation. Tremendous sweating. Edema is slowly going down."


For Edema "I took the first dose on a Friday after work. That night I was awake all night with terrible leg cramps and an odd cramp in my midriff. I took the second dose earlier in the afternoon the next day. The cramp in my midriff returned. I called the hospital where my doctor practices and the nurse practitioner from her office called me back. She advised me not to take the Lasix anymore and to go to the ER if the cramping came back tonight. My ankle is nearly normal size, but I am not sure it was worth it."


For Edema "I have been using Lasix in combination with Hydrochlorothiazide for 6 months for pitting edema/hypertension, and its effects seem to have worn off. I started on 20mg once a day for 2 months then up to 40mg once a day for the last 4 months. Now my legs are back to swelling as much as if I were taking nothing. My blood pressure is good though. Side effects: headaches."


For High Blood Pressure "I used this med along with Cardizem. Lasix was supposed to also help control serious swelling in my feet from the Cardizem, in addition to aiding in controlling my blood pressure. The only issue I had with it is that it made my eyes burn very badly by making them very dry. I have dry eyes anyway, so that didn't help. It also didn't control the swelling in my feet, but did help with blood pressure."


For Pulmonary Edema "I have been taking Lasix for 2 days now. My swelling seems to come and go. I was swollen in my stomach, thighs, ankles, and feet. I couldn't walk, and I was short of breath. Thankfully, with Lasix, I am able to walk, and swelling is going down. I take 40 mg in the morning."


For High Blood Pressure "I have PMR but I have recently started on Lasix for high blood pressure. Terrible pain in shoulders and thighs which is mimicking PMR symptoms for which I take prednisone. Also very dizzy and can't walk without holding on to something. Tired all the time."

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Related treatment guides

  • Edema
  • Heart Failure
  • Ascites
  • High Blood Pressure

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